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Context: Analyzing flick movement kinematics biomechanically is important to prevent sport-related injuries in underwater hockey players since the aquatic-based flick movement is completely different from land-based flick movements. The study aimed to describe the flick movement kinematic biomechanically in underwater hockey players. Moreover, this study further aimed to investigate the effect of the Thrower's Ten exercises on flick movement kinematics in underwater hockey players. Design: Descriptive laboratory study. Methods: Seventeen underwater hockey players (age: 26.2 [4.3] y; sports age: 6.2 [4.5] y) were included. First, 2 underwater cameras using motion capture video analysis MATLAB were used to biomechanically analyze the angular changes on the shoulder, elbow, wrist, and body while players were performing the flick movements. Players were then recruited to the Thrower's Ten exercise program for 6 weeks. Flick movement kinematics and flick-throwing distance were recorded at baseline and 6 weeks. Results: The flick movement kinematic patterns demonstrated increased shoulder flexion (from 102.5° to 144.9°), wrist extension (from 9.5° to 10.8°), and upper-extremity rotation (from 5.7° to 56.8°) while decreased elbow extension (from 107.7° to 159.2°) from the stick met the puck until the competition of the movement. The Thrower's Ten exercises improved the elbow extension (P =.04), wrist extension (P =.01), body rotation (P <.001), and flick-throwing distance (P <.001) from baseline to 6 weeks. Conclusion: This study describes the underwater flick kinematic technique biomechanically and interprets preliminary findings for the first time. Thus, 6 weeks of Thrower's Ten exercise program provides more body muscle movements than the smaller ones during the flick movements and higher flick-throwing distance in underwater hockey players. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we explored the phase stability of quaternary Mo 1 − x M x AlB (M = Cr, Fe, Mn, Nb, Sc, Ta, Ti, V, and W) solid solutions by employing a cluster expansion method to generate structures with different concentrations of M atoms. Using the first-principles calculations based on density functional theory, we predicted that these compounds exhibit a preference for either fully random structures or phase-segregated (M-rich regions) phases against the competing phases. To evaluate the Gibbs free energy of Mo 1 − x M x AlB alloys, we investigated the impact of various entropy contributions, including configurational, electronic, and vibrational entropy. Our study revealed that configurational entropy plays an important role in stabilizing the random phases observed in Mo 1 − x M x AlB compounds, highlighting its importance in understanding the thermodynamic behavior of these alloys. However, the vibrational and electronic entropy changes with respect to competing phases can stabilize or destabilize Mo 1 − x M x AlB depending on their sign. Our results indicate that, while W is soluble across the entire range of mixing ratios, Sc and Ti are completely insoluble in any ratio. On the other hand, Cr, Ta, Nb, and V can be successfully incorporated into the MoAlB lattice at varying fractions at elevated temperatures. The size, valence electron concentration, and electronegativity differences between Mo and M can be utilized as descriptors to identify stable Mo 1 − x M x AlB compounds. We extensively examined the structural, dynamical stability, thermal conductivity, and mechanical properties of Mo 1 − x M x AlB compounds. We analyze their dependence on the choice of the M element incorporated in the alloy. Our findings can guide the design and engineering of these materials to tailor their properties to specific applications based on the choice of the M element. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work studies the influence of the adsorbed layer on the glass transition of thin films of polysulfone. Therefore, the growth kinetics of the irreversibly adsorbed layer of polysulfone on silicon substrates was first investigated using the solvent leaching approach, and the thickness of the remaining layer was measured with atomic force microscopy. Annealing conditions before leaching were varied in temperature and time (0–336 h). The growth kinetics showed three distinct regions: a pre-growth step where it was assumed that phenyl rings align parallel to the substrate at the shortest annealing times, a linear growth region, and a crossover from linear to logarithmic growth observed at higher temperatures for the longest annealing times. No signs of desorption were observed, pointing to the formation of a strongly adsorbed layer. Second, the glass transition of thin polysulfone films was studied in dependence on the film thickness using spectroscopic ellipsometry. Three annealing conditions were compared: two with only a tightly bound layer formed in the linear growth regime and one with both tightly bound and loosely adsorbed layers formed in the logarithmic growth regime. The onset thickness and increase in the glass transition temperature increases with annealing time and temperature. These differences were attributed to the distinct conformations of the formed adsorbed layers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical and radiographic results of simultaneous implant placement using transcrestal sinus floor elevation (TSFE) with and without enamel matrix derivative (EMD) application. Materials and Methods: Twenty-four patients were randomly assigned into two groups: The EMD+TSFE group (n = 13 patients, 20 implants) received TSFE with EMD application, and the TSFE group (n = 11 patients, 20 implants) received TSFE without EMD application. The patients were recalled at 3 (T3) and 12 (T12) months postsurgery. The residual bone height (RBH), implant protrusion length (IPL), peri-implant sinus bone level (SBL), endo-sinus bone gain (ESBG), and implant stability (ISQ) were measured. Multivariate regressions were performed for the groups. Results: At T3, the ESBG was 3.72 ± 0.85 mm in the EMD+TSFE group and 3.10 ± 0.05 mm in the TSFE group, and there were statistically significant differences (P < .05). However, there were no statistically significant differences in ESBG at T12 between the groups (P > .05). ISQ values did not show a statistical difference between the groups at T1 and T3, but at T3 in the TSFE+EMD group, there was a statistical increase in the intragroup evaluation compared to the TSFE group. Conclusions: The use of EMD in TSFE procedures is effective in new bone formation at the apical part of the implant during the early healing period, but in the long term, no significant difference was shown between cases in which EMD was or was not used in terms of new bone formation and primary and secondary stabilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Soft tissue mobilization is frequently employed for delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) management. Foam roller and percussive massage are 2 popular soft tissue mobilization methods preferred by various professionals. However, their effects on DOMS symptoms are controversial and there are no studies comparing these 2 methods. The aim of the present study was to compare the acute effects of soft tissue mobilization with a foam roller or a percussive massage device on DOMS in young male recreational athletes. Design: A parallel, single-blinded, randomized controlled trial. Methods: Thirty-six participants (median [interquartile range 25/75]; age: 20.0 [19.3/21.0] y) were randomly allocated to percussive massage group (n = 12), foam roller group (n = 12), and control group (n = 12). First, a fatigue protocol targeting quadriceps femoris was performed. Then, participants received soft tissue mobilization with foam roller/percussive massage or rested for 10 minutes according to their groups. Pain and fatigue were evaluated by a visual analog scale, and the skin surface temperature of over the quadriceps femoris was measured with thermal camera imaging. Evaluations were performed at baseline, following fatigue protocol, at 24th hour, and at 48th hour. Changes from the baseline at 24th and 48th hours were compared between groups. Results: No significant between-group differences were observed at the assessments performed at 24th or 48th hour regarding the changes from baseline in pain (P value for 24th hour = .905, P value for 48th hour = .733), fatigue (P value for 24th hour = .895, P value for 48th hour = .606), or skin surface temperature measurements (P values for 24th hour = between .300 and .925, P values for 48th hour = between .311 and .750). Conclusions: Soft tissue mobilizations applied with foam roller or percussive massage device do not seem to be superior to passive resting in alleviating DOMS symptoms in recreational athletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The measurement of T-cell receptor excision circle (TREC) is used for newborn screening (NBS) in dried blood spot (DBS) samples from Guthrie card for severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID). Here, we report the results of first newborn screening pilot program for SCID conducted in Türkiye. Methods: The study was carried out together with Ankara University School of Medicine and The Ministry of Health, Public Health General Directorate, Pediatric and Adolescent Health Department. TREC measurements were performed in randomly selected Guthrie card samples obtained from 20253 babies born between October 2018 and October 2020. The TREC analyses were performed together with beta Actin (β-Actin) via RT-PCR (Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction). Results: TRECs found to be normal (≥15 copies/µl) in 98,6% of the newborns (n: 19975) but low (<15 copies/µl) in 1.4% (n:278) at the initial analyses. TRECs were retested in 278 suspected infants and found to be normal in 160 (0.8%) while low in 118 (0.58%). New DBS were obtained from the babies with low TRECs (new sample test). TRECs were normal in 108 (0.53%) of the new sample tests and low in 10 (0.049%). Two among 10 babies who had abnormal (undetectable) TRECs were diagnosed as SCID; ADA (P1) and RAG1 (P2) defects were confirmed respectively. They both received curative treatments [gene therapy (P1) and HSCT (P2)]. The remaining 6 of 8 newborns with abnormal TRECs were found normal after clinical and laboratory immune work-up, while medical records of other two revealed early postnatal death due to extreme prematurity. Conclusion: In the light of this study the incidence of SCID was detected at least 1/10000 live births in Türkiye. This study shows the feasibility and usefulness of initiating SCID screening in Türkiye. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Pediatric Disease / Türkiye Çocuk Hastalıkları Dergisi is the property of Turkish Journal of Pediatric Disease and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In this study, the static E50 and υ parameters of rock materials were investigated using P-S wave velocities and Shore hardness (SH), using non-destructive measurement methods. In this study, the multiple linear regression (MLR), multiple non-linear regression (MNLR), and artificial neural network (ANN) models were used to estimate and determine the static E50 and υ parameters. When comparing the models defined by MLR, MNLR, and ANN to the R2 values, it was found that the ANN models, which estimate the E50 and υ parameters of rock materials using non-destructive methods (Vp, Vs, Vp/Vs, ρd, and SH), achieved higher accuracy than the MLR and MNLR models. The originality of this study is rooted in the fact that ores such as galena, chromite, and barite were studied for the first time from a rock mechanics perspective, providing an innovative viewpoint. In addition, the use of all non-destructive measurement methods, Vp, Vs, and Shore hardness tests, also increases the importance of the study findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Allergen-specific immunotherapy, a unique inducer of tolerance, may result in T cell exhaution. Aims: To investigate how the duration of house dust mite (HDM) subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) affects the expression of major immune checkpoint (ICP) molecules on the surface of CD4+ T-helper and regulatory T (Treg) cells. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: We enrolled 28 children with HDM-induced allergic rhinitis (AR) and six controls. The study participants were divided into six groups: one group each of patients in their first, second, and third years of HDM-SCIT; one group each comprising those in the first year following HDM-SCIT and those on pharmacotherapy; and the control group. The expression of ICPs on CD4+ T and Treg cells was determined using flow cytometry, and plasma levels of soluble ICPs were estimated by ELISA. Results: Our results revealed a significant increase in the expression of cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) and lymphocyte activation gene 3 (LAG-3) on CD4+ T cells during the second and third years of SCIT, respectively. Additionally, a strong correlation was observed between the expression of CTLA-4 and T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain containing molecule-3 in CD4+ T cells. Furthermore, we observed a significant correlation between the expressions of programmed cell death protein-1, CTLA-4, T cell Immunoreceptor with Immunoglobulin and Immunoreceptor Tyrosine-Based Inhibitory Motif domain, and LAG-3 on both CD4+ T and Treg cells. A robust correlation was observed between the plasma levels of soluble ICPs. Conclusion: HDM-SCIT induces CD4+ T cell exhaution, which may contribute to tolerance induction in children with AR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The multisystemic effects of COVID-19 may continue for a longer time period following the acute phase, depending on the severity of the disease. However, long-term systemic transcriptomic changes associated with COVID-19 disease and the impact of disease severity are not fully understood. We aimed to investigate the impact of COVID-19 and its severity on transcriptomic alterations in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) following 1 year of the disease. PBMCs were isolated from the peripheral blood of healthy control donors who did not have COVID-19 (C; n = 13), from COVID-19 patients without pneumonia (NP; n = 11), and from COVID-19 patients with severe pneumonia (SP; n = 10) after 1-year of follow-up. Following RNA isolation from PBMCs, high-quality RNAs were sequenced after creating a library. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differentially expressed long non-coding RNAs (DElncRNAs) were identified using Benjamini–Hochberg correction and they were analysed for hierarchical clustering and principal component analysis (PCA). Intergroup comparisons (C vs. NP, C vs. SP, and NP vs. SP) of DEGs and DElncRNAs were performed and hub genes were determined. Functional enrichment analyses of DEGs and DElncRNAs were made using Metascape (v3.5.20240101) and the first version of NCPATH. The RNA sequencing analysis revealed 4843 DEGs and 1056 DElncRNAs in "C vs. NP", 1651 DEGs and 577 DElncRNAs in "C vs. SP", and 954 DEGs and 148 DElncRNAs in "NP vs. SP", with 291 DEGs and 70 DElncRNAs shared across all groups, respectively. We identified 14 hub genes from 291 DEGs, with functional enrichment analysis showing upregulated DEGs mainly linked to inflammation and osteoclast differentiation and downregulated DEGs to viral infections and immune responses. The analysis showed that 291 common and 14 hub genes were associated with pneumonia and that these genes could be regulated by the transcription factors JUN and NFκB1 carrying the NFκB binding site. We also revealed unique immune cell signatures across DEG categories indicating that the upregulated DEGs were associated with neutrophils and monocytes, while downregulated DEGs were associated with CD4 memory effector T cells. The comparative transcriptomic analysis of NP and SP groups with 52 gene signatures suggestive of IPF risk showed a lower risk of IPF in the SP group than the NP patients. Our findings suggest that COVID-19 may cause long term pathologies by modulating the expression of various DEGs, DeLncRNAs, and hub genes at the cellular level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scheduling is an important decision-making problem in production planning and the resulting decisions have a direct impact on reducing waste, including energy and idle capacity. Batch scheduling problems occur in various industries from automotive to food and energy. This paper introduces the parallel p-batch scheduling problem with batch delivery, content-dependent loading/unloading times and energy-aware objective function. The problem has been motivated by a real system used for freezing products in a food processing company. A mixed-integer linear programming model (MILP) has been developed and explained through a numerical example. As it is not practical to solve large-size instances via a mathematical model, the discrete differential evolution algorithm has been improved (iDDE) and hybridised with the genetic algorithm (GA). A release-oriented vector generation procedure and a heuristic batch formation mechanism have been developed to efficiently solve the problem. The performance of the proposed approach (iDDEGA) has been compared with CPLEX, iDDE and GA through a comprehensive computational study. A case study was conducted based on real data collected from the freezing process of the company, which also verified the practical use and advantages of the proposed methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Sleep disturbances are being increasingly recognized in association with autoimmune encephalitis (AIE). We investigated the prevalence of sleep-related symptoms and polysomnographic features of patients with AIE and the long-term outcomes in these patients in a multi-center, prospective study from Turkey. Methods: We prospectively evaluated patients with definite AIE in a common database including demographics, AIE-related and sleep-related symptomatology. Maximum and latest modified Rankin scores (mRS) and Liverpool Outcome Score (LOS) were noted. Results: Of 142 patients, 87 patients (61.3%) fulfilled the criteria for definite AIE (mean age, 46.8+18.8 years; 51.7% women; mean disease duration, 21.0+38.4 months). 78.9% of patients had at least one or more new onset or worsened sleep-related symptomatology: insomnia (55.3%), excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS, 28.0%), sleep apnea (18.7%), REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD, 17.3%), restless legs syndrome (10.7%) and oneiric stupor (9.3%). Sleep efficiency, N3 and REM sleep were decreased and N1 sleep was increased in patients with Ab[+] AIE. LOS points were highest in those with insomnia and sleep apnea, and lowest in those with EDS, RBD and oneiric stupor. RBD and sleep apnea were more common in anti-LG1 Ab[+] group than anti-NMDAR Ab[+] group. Index of periodic leg movements was highest in anti-LG1 Ab[+] group. Patients with EDS and oneiric stupor had more common memory problems. Maximum and latest mRS scores were positively correlated with EDS and oneiric stupor. EDS, RBD and oneiric stupor were negatively correlated with LOS points. Conclusion: Our study emphasizes the presence and importance of early diagnosis of sleep disturbances in AIE in regard to their deteriorative influences on disease prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aims to investigate the level of awareness among residents living around an urban stream regarding the issues arising from the stream and the degree to which they are affected by these problems. To achieve this goal, a face-to-face questionnaire-based survey was conducted with 270 randomly selected individuals using a proportional sampling method. We measured the awareness of residents about the issues arising from the urban stream, as well as their level of impact. The research determined that the inhabitants of the region were aware of and affected by various ecological, socio-cultural, land use, technical engineering, and management issues. The most important problems of which participants were aware included the low water quality, public order problems, the existence of unsafe, unused, and abandoned parts of the city on the stream banks and in the immediate vicinity of the stream, and the presence of a foul odor. Water pollution, public order problems, visual pollution, and the presence of a foul odor were identified as the problems most affecting the participants. Solution recommendations were developed under the five main headings of the identified problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/aim: Symptoms of COVID-19 may persist for months. One of the persistent symptoms of COVID-19 is fatigue, which reduces functional status. The relationship between fatigue, functional status, and various other factors has received little attention, which this study aims to address.. Materials and methods: Patients with COVID-19 infection were included in this multicenter cross-sectional study. Age, sex, body mass index (BMI), marital status, smoking status, presence and duration of chronic disease, comorbidity index, regular exercise habits, time since COVID-19 diagnosis, hospitalization status, length of hospital stay, intubation status, home oxygen therapy after discharge, participation in a pulmonary rehabilitation program, presence of dyspnea, presence of cough, presence of sputum, and modified Medical Research Council, Post-COVID Functional Status (PCFS), Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), and EQ-5D-5L Questionnaire scores were recorded. Results: We enrolled 1095 patients, including 603 (55%) men and 492 (45%) women with a mean age of 50 ± 14 years. The most common chronic lung disease was COPD (11%) and 266 (29%) patients had nonpulmonary disease. The median time elapsed since COVID-19 diagnosis was 5 months; the hospitalization rate was 47%. The median PCFS grade was 1 (0-4) and the median FSS score was 4.4 (1-7). The PCFS and FSS were positively correlated (r = 0.49, p < 0.01; OR: 1.88, 95% CI: 1.68-2.10). Both functional status and fatigue were associated with quality of life, which was lower in older patients, those with higher BMI, those with systemic disease, those not exercising regularly, and those with more severe COVID-19 infection (defined by dyspnea, pneumonia as indicated by computed tomography, hospitalization, length of stay, ICU admission, intubation, and the need for home oxygen after discharge). Conclusion: Fatigue may cause poorer functional status regardless of the time since COVID-19 diagnosis. In this study, patients with FSS scores of >4.78 showed moderate to severe functional limitations. It is important to address modifiable patient risk factors and reduce the severity of COVID-19 infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Functional or non-secretory ectopic pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (PitNET) can form around the sella turcica during the development of the adenohypophysis by differentiating and detaching from the pharyngeal roof. These tumors usually appear in the sphenoid sinus, clivus, cavernous sinus, infundibulum, and suprasellar cistern. Ectopic PitNETs typically display the characteristic magnetic resonance imaging findings of pituitary adenomas. However, preoperative diagnosis of PitNETs is usually challenging because of the variety of clinical and imaging presentations, locations, and sizes. Ectopic suprasellar PitNETs resemble mass lesions in the pituitary stalk. Ectopic cavernous sinus of PitNETs are typically microadenomas in the medial wall. Ectopic sphenoclival tumors are characterized by more aggressive tumor activity than the other ectopic PitNETs. Although ectopic PitNETs are exceedingly rare, they should be considered as a differential diagnosis for masses around the sella turcica. Treatment of the disease should be individualized and may include medical care, surgical resection, gamma-knife radiosurgery, and radiotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This methodological study aimed to establish the Turkish validity and reliability of the Vaccine Literacy Scale (VLS) for childhood vaccines. Materials and methods: The sample consisted of 285 Turkish parents with children 0–4 years of age. Data were collected using a sociodemographic characteristics questionnaire, the VLS, and the Health Literacy Scale (HLS-14). A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed to analyze the validity of the psychometric properties. Item total score correlation, Cronbach's coefficient (α), and parallel form reliability tests were used to analyze the reliability. The data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS, IBM, v. 25) and Analysis of Moment Structures (AMOS, v. 21.0) at a significance level of 0.05. Results: According to the CFA, the model fit indices were χ2 = 121.218, χ2/df = 1.987, RMSA = 0.059, CFI =.0.974, GFI = 0.943, and AGFI = 0.914. The item-total score correlation values ranged from 0.406 to 0.682. The "functional health literacy," "communicative health literacy," and "critical health literacy" subscales had Cronbach's alpha values of 0.87, 0.88, and 0.88, respectively. There was a negative correlation between the VLS and HLS-14 (r = –0.618–0.569) (p < 0.000). Conclusion: The analyses and evaluations show that the Vaccine Literacy Scale is valid and reliable for the Turkish population. It is a valid and reliable instrument that can be used to determine Turkish parents' health literacy regarding childhood vaccines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macrophages play a pivotal role in the innate immune response. While their most characteristic function is phagocytosis, it is important not to solely characterize macrophages by this activity. Their crucial roles in body development, homeostasis, repair, and immune responses against pathogens necessitate a broader understanding. Macrophages exhibit remarkable plasticity, allowing them to modify their functional characteristics in response to the tissue microenvironment (tissue type, presence of pathogens or inflammation, and specific signals from neighboring cells) swiftly. While there is no single defined "macrophage" entity, there is a diverse array of macrophage types because macrophage ontogeny involves the differentiation of progenitor cells into tissue-resident macrophages, as well as the recruitment and differentiation of circulating monocytes in response to tissue-specific cues. In addition, macrophages continuously sense and respond to environmental cues and tissue conditions, adjusting their functional and metabolic states accordingly. Consequently, it is of paramount importance to comprehend the heterogeneous origins and functions of macrophages employed in in vitro studies, as each available in vitro macrophage model is associated with specific sets of strengths and limitations. This review centers its attention on a comprehensive comparison between immortalized mouse macrophage cell lines and primary mouse macrophages. It provides a detailed analysis of the strengths and weaknesses inherent in these in vitro models. Finally, it explores the subtle distinctions between diverse macrophage cell lines, offering insights into numerous factors beyond the model type that can profoundly influence macrophage function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To develop and validate a holography based vision simulator for the demonstration of expected postoperative vision corresponding to monofocal and multifocal intraocular lenses (IOL) to cataract patients before surgery. Methods: An artificial eye model is used to measure the optical performance of different IOL types. The resultant aberrations and degradations are then modeled using phase holograms and shown to subjects on a holographic display. We measure the contrast and resolution loss, halos around the light sources, and point spread function (PSF) corresponding to three different IOLs. We tested the holography based vision simulator on 13 healthy subjects and 6 cataract patients. Results: Monofocal, bifocal, and trifocal IOLs exhibited a contrast decrease of 5%, 42%, and 45% and a resolution limit of 4.49, 4.00, and 4.00 lp/mm (using 0.05 MTF criteria), respectively. Monofocal IOLs have the best resolution and contrast at the optimal focus distance, and multifocal lenses offer extended depth-of-field but exhibit prominent halos and reduced contrast/resolution. Conclusion: We confirmed that the visual functions of IOLs could be successfully modeled using phase holograms and simulated using a holographic display without using a physical IOL. Patients can experience the effects of different IOL options prior to surgery, which helps with IOL selection, expectation management, and patient satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This cost of illness study aimed to determine economic burden of short-acting β2-agonist (SABA) overuse in Türkiye from payer perspective with respect to the updated GINA 2022 treatment recommendations. Methods: A total of 3,034,879 asthma patients comprised the study population, via estimations extrapolated from the Türkiye arm of the global SABINA III study. The economic burden (costs related to the drug use and severe exacerbations) was compared in subgroups of overall (≥ 0 canisters/year) vs. GINA-recommended (0–2 canisters/year, hypothetical population) SABA use and in subgroups of appropriate use (0–2 canisters/year, real population) vs. overuse (≥ 3 canisters/year) of SABA with extrapolation of SABINA Türkiye data to the Türkiye asthma population. Results: Recommended SABA use was predicted to prevent 127,505 of 157,512 severe exacerbations per year in mild asthma patients and 2,668,916 of 3,262,800 severe exacerbations per year in moderate-severe asthma patients. Annual cost burden of not applying recommended SABA use (overall [≥ 0 canisters/year] vs. GINA-recommended [0–2 canisters/year] SABA use) in mild asthma and moderate-severe asthma patients was calculated to be €20.43 million and €427.65 million in terms of severe exacerbations, and to be €829,352 and €7.20 million in terms of drug costs, respectively. The total annual economic burden arising from not applying recommended SABA use was estimated to be €456.11 million. Appropriate use (0–2 canisters/year) vs. overuse (≥ 3 canisters/year) of SABA was associated with decreased frequency of severe exacerbations per year in mild asthma (from 129,878 to 27,634) and moderate-severe asthma (from 2,834,611 to 428,189) patients. SABA overuse in mild and moderate-severe asthma patients was estimated to yield an additional annual cost of €16.38 million and €385.59 million, respectively in terms of severe exacerbations, and a total €11.30 million additional drug cost. The overall annual economic burden arising from SABA overuse was estimated to be €413.27 million. Conclusions: The estimated annual total economic burden arising from not applying recommended SABA use (€456.11 million) and SABA overuse (€413.27 million) with respect to the updated GINA 2022 treatment recommendations indicates the substantial cost burden of SABA overuse to the Turkish National Health System, corresponding up to 26% of the total direct cost of asthma reported in our country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the socio-dental approach, the integration of normative oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) and behavioral propensity measures should be considered when assessing treatment needs and planning oral services. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the relationship between oral health impacts attributed to malocclusion and normative and self-perceived orthodontic treatment needs in adolescent patients and to determine the clinical, sociodemographic, and behavioral factors affecting their OHRQoL. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted using a convenience sample size of 105 adolescent patients aged 11–14 years who were referred to the Orthodontics Clinic in the Faculty of Dentistry, Istanbul. Data were collected using clinical examinations and a self-reported questionnaire, including the condition-specific Child Oral Impact on Daily Performances (CS-COIDP) attributed to malocclusion and sociodemographic, clinical, and behavioral factors. The index of complexity, outcome, and need (ICON), gingival index, and Decayed, Missing, Filled Teeth index was used to assess oral health status. Descriptive statistics and bivariate and multivariate regression analyses were used for the data analyses. Results: A total of 70 patients (66.7%) reported at least one impact. Furthermore, 47% of the adolescents had very difficult and difficult complexity grades. The most affected performances were "emotional (52.4%) and smiling (40%)". No significant differences were found in the total CS-COIDP scores according to caries experience; however, the gingival status was associated with the total OHRQoL. Lower tooth brushing frequency, increased malocclusion complexity, and subjective treatment need were the most important predictors of worse OHRQoL, accounting for 39.3% of the variance in the scores. (R2 = 0.422; p < 0.001) Conclusions: Oral health professionals should consider oral behaviors, malocclusion complexity, and subjective treatment need when planning orthodontic treatment plans. Integrating ICON, CS-COIDP, and behavioral assessment will help identify adolescents who should be prioritized for treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the socio-dental approach, the integration of normative oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) and behavioral propensity measures should be considered when assessing treatment needs and planning oral services. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the relationship between oral health impacts attributed to malocclusion and normative and self-perceived orthodontic treatment needs in adolescent patients and to determine the clinical, sociodemographic, and behavioral factors affecting their OHRQoL. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted using a convenience sample size of 105 adolescent patients aged 11–14 years who were referred to the Orthodontics Clinic in the Faculty of Dentistry, Istanbul. Data were collected using clinical examinations and a self-reported questionnaire, including the condition-specific Child Oral Impact on Daily Performances (CS-COIDP) attributed to malocclusion and sociodemographic, clinical, and behavioral factors. The index of complexity, outcome, and need (ICON), gingival index, and Decayed, Missing, Filled Teeth index was used to assess oral health status. Descriptive statistics and bivariate and multivariate regression analyses were used for the data analyses. Results: A total of 70 patients (66.7%) reported at least one impact. Furthermore, 47% of the adolescents had very difficult and difficult complexity grades. The most affected performances were "emotional (52.4%) and smiling (40%)". No significant differences were found in the total CS-COIDP scores according to caries experience; however, the gingival status was associated with the total OHRQoL. Lower tooth brushing frequency, increased malocclusion complexity, and subjective treatment need were the most important predictors of worse OHRQoL, accounting for 39.3% of the variance in the scores. (R2 = 0.422; p < 0.001) Conclusions: Oral health professionals should consider oral behaviors, malocclusion complexity, and subjective treatment need when planning orthodontic treatment plans. Integrating ICON, CS-COIDP, and behavioral assessment will help identify adolescents who should be prioritized for treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a devastating disease of wheat, causing yield losses, reduced grain quality, and mycotoxin contamination. Breeding can mitigate the severity of FHB epidemics, especially with genomics-assisted methods. The mechanisms underlying resistance to FHB in wheat have been extensively studied, including phenological traits and genome-wide markers associated with FHB severity. Here, we aimed to improve genomic prediction for FHB resistance across breeding programs by incorporating FHB-correlated traits and FHB-associated loci as model covariates. We combined phenotypic data on FHB severity, anthesis date, and plant height with genome-wide marker data from five Central European winter wheat breeding programs for genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and genomic prediction. Within all populations, FHB was correlated with anthesis date and/or plant height, and a marker linked to the semi-dwarfing locus Rht-D1 was detected with GWAS for FHB. Including the Rht-D1 marker, anthesis date, and/or plant height as covariates in genomic prediction modeling improved prediction accuracy not only within populations but also in cross-population scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phage resistance is crucial for lactic acid bacteria in the dairy industry. However, identifying all phages affecting these bacteria is challenging. CRISPR-Cas systems offer a resistance mechanism developed by bacteria and archaea against phages and plasmids. In this study, 11 S. thermophilus strains from traditional yogurts underwent analysis using next-generation sequencing (NGS) and bioinformatics tools. Initial characterization involved molecular ribotyping. Bioinformatics analysis of the NGS raw data revealed that all 11 strains possessed at least one CRISPR type. A total of 21 CRISPR loci were identified, belonging to CRISPR types II-A, II-C, and III-A, including 13 Type II-A, 1 Type III-C, and 7 Type III-A CRISPR types. By analyzing spacer sequences in S. thermophilus bacterial genomes and matching them with phage/plasmid genomes, notable strains emerged. SY9 showed prominence with 132 phage matches and 30 plasmid matches, followed by SY12 with 35 phage matches and 25 plasmid matches, and SY18 with 49 phage matches and 13 plasmid matches. These findings indicate the potential of S. thermophilus strains in phage/plasmid resistance for selecting starter cultures, ultimately improving the quality and quantity of dairy products. Nevertheless, further research is required to validate these results and explore the practical applications of this approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common global respiratory virus that is increasingly recognized as a major pathogen in frail older adults and as a cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations. There is no single test for RSV in adults that has acceptable diagnostic accuracy. Trials of RSV vaccines have recently shown excellent safety and efficacy against RSV in older adults; defining the frequency of RSV-related community infections and COPD exacerbations is important for vaccine deployment decisions. Objectives: This prospective study aimed to establish the frequency of outpatient-managed RSV-related exacerbations of COPD in two well-characterized patient cohorts using a combination of diagnostic methods. Methods: Participants were recruited at specialist clinics in London, United Kingdom, and Groningen, the Netherlands, beginning in 2017 and observed for three consecutive RSV seasons, during exacerbations, and at least twice yearly. RSV infections were detected by RT-PCR and serologic testing. Measurements and Main Results: A total of 377 patients with COPD attended 1,999 clinic visits and reported 310 exacerbations. There were 27 RSV-related exacerbations (8.7% of the total); of these, seven were detected only by PCR, 16 only by serology, and four by both methods. Increases in RSV-specific Nucleoprotein antibody were as sensitive as those in the antibody to Pre-Fusion or Post-Fusion for serodiagnosis of RSV-related exacerbations. Conclusions: RSV is associated with 8.7% of outpatient-managed COPD exacerbations in this study. Antibodies to RSV Nucleoprotein may have diagnostic value and are potentially important in a vaccinated population. The introduction of vaccines that prevent RSV is expected to benefit patients with COPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How to tune the activity and reversibility of oxygen anion redox (OAR) is a critical issue for O3‐type sodium‐ion battery (SIB) cathodes. Herein, the key role of electronegativity‐difference configuration on the activation of OAR is find out, and further tune electronegativity‐difference configuration with La incorporation to construct non‐bonded O 2p orbitals and achieve the reversible anionic redox in O3‐type NaMn1/3Fe1/3Ni1/3O2. Owing to the special extranuclear electronic structure of La3+ [Xe], the La electron cloud is difficult to be disturbed by the O electron cloud, and some O electrons do not participate in the formation of ionic bonds, thus retaining the non‐bonded electrons of O 2p and activating OAR. Moreover, La3+ doping also decreases the Coulomb force between Na+ and O2− favoring Na+ migration as well as strengthening the La─O bonds inhibiting the irreversible phase transition. La2O3 coating layer also plays a role on inhibiting the reaction between molecular oxygen and the electrolyte, and making OAR reversible. After modification, the cycling stability is significantly improved (86.9% vs 27.3%@2C@200cycles; 90.8% vs 52.9%@5C@300 cycles). This study presents some insights on OAR activation mechanism and offers a facile strategy to improve the activity and reversibility of OAR for designing high performance SIBs cathodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The optimization of automatic solvent extraction (ASE) for obtaining grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) peel extract was conducted by Box-Behnken design under statistical experimental design approach (response surface method-RSM). The optimization is based on the D-limonene concentration since it is the major volatile compound of the grapefruit essential oil. The optimum conditions were attained with almost 7.5 g fresh grapefruit peel, and ~11 min immersion time and ~10 min washing time by application of ASE. The maximum yield was 4.91 mg D-limonene per gram fresh grapefruit peel. The reliability of the study was satisfactory (the difference between the experimental and calculated values<2%). Depending on ANOVA findings of RSM, the second power effect of mass was the most significant, followed by the second power effects of immersion time and washing time, and the linear effect of immersion time (p<0.0001). On the other hand, ~96% of the total volatile composition belong to the D-limonene depending on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) measurements. Additionally, myrcene, decanal, and β-ocimene were also determined as the main flavor components in grapefruit peel extract. Moreover, the related componenens were also characterized by using nuclear magnetic resonance (1H- and 13C-NMR) techniques as well as Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The overarching contribution of this paper is a novel event-triggered distributed control architecture for multiagent systems that are composed of a team of nonholonomic mobile robots. Specifically, the robot dynamics are first feedback linearised to equivalently represent each robot with double integrator dynamics and the event-triggering law is then presented. This law is characterised by being decentralised (depending only on own signals of a robot), norm-free (independent of distances for reducing robot-to-robot data transmissions), and adaptive (estimating signals without using global information). Moreover, its system-theo- retical analysis is provided, which holds for both the sampled data exchange method and the solution-predictor curve-based data exchange method. In contrast to the well-studied sampled data exchange, the solution-predictor curve method further reduces robot-to-robot data transmissions by making each agent to store a generic form of this curve and exchange its parameters when an event occurs for approximating the solution trajectory of each robot. Finally, an illustrative numerical example is included to demonstrate the overall architecture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on developing an innovative packaging material for fresh strawberries composed of electrospun poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL)/poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) fibers decorated by pure graphene oxide (GO) and functionalized GOs with silane agents using the electrospinning technique. Initially, synthesized GO was first functionalized by silane agents, and followed by the fabrication of electrospun PCL/PVP fibers incorporating both pure GO and functionalized GOs. The surface morphological analyses revealed the uniformity, smoothness, and beadless in the fabricated fibers. The average fiber diameter of the PCL/PVP/0.5A‐GO fibers was found as 3244 ± 56 nm. Electrospun PCL/PVP/0.5A‐GO and PCL/PVP/0.5G‐GO fibers exhibited increased water absorption ratios over 20 days. The incorporation of GO into the polymer matrix, along with an increase in GO concentration, enhanced the tensile strength of the fibers, found as 5.149 ± 0.032 kPa. In preservation tests on fresh strawberries, PCL/PVP/0.5A‐GO fibers demonstrated superior freshness compared with unpacked strawberries and other variants. The study also highlighted the inhibitory effects of fibers decorated with 0.5% APTES‐GO, showing the highest inhibition zone. In summary, fibers incorporating 0.5% A‐GO effectively extended the shelf‐life of fresh strawberries, making them a promising packaging material for perishable goods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) constitutes an autoimmune disorder with potential involvement of the gastrointestinal system (GIS). Our objective was to assess the gastrointestinal (GI) manifestations in patients diagnosed with childhood onset SLE. Methods: The study cohort consisted of 123 patients with childhood onset-SLE and GIS involvement from 16 referral departments of pediatric rheumatology. All participants met the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics criteria. Results: Out of 123 patients, 78 (63.4%) exhibited GIS involvement at the initial SLE diagnosis, whereas the remaining 45 (36.6%) developed GI symptoms after a median duration of 12 (3–140) months. Eighty-two (66.7%) individuals experienced symptoms related to the GI tract, whereas the remaining patients received a diagnosis of GI involvement through laboratory assessments. The predominant initial GIS involvement symptom was abdominal pain, observed in 77 (62.6%) patients, followed by elevated hepatic transaminases in 70 (56.9%), hepatomegaly in 40 (32.5%), diarrhea in 26 (21.1%), and jaundice in 11 (8.9%) patients. The GIS involvement was associated with SLE in 82 (78.6%), while it resulted from drug-related adverse events in 35 (28.5%) patients or comorbidities in 6 (0.5%) patients. Conclusion: GIS involvement should be considered in all childhood onset-SLE patients, especially in the presence of suggestive symptoms or elevated hepatic transaminases. It is also crucial to consider SLE in the differential diagnosis of GIS manifestations in children. Apart from GIS involvement directly associated with SLE, adverse events of drugs should be kept in mind. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Visual perception of face images or face pareidolia can be evaluated with event-related potentials (ERP) for healthy subjects and patients with neurological conditions. In this study, we aimed to analyse event-related potential components such as P100, N100, N170, and vertex-positive potential (VPP) in response to face pareidolia perception in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) patients. Methods: ERPs were recorded during the pareidolia test. Waveforms were analzyed and current source density (CSD) maps were generated. Results: CSD profiles were shown to be interpretable when face and face pareidolia conditions. N100, P100, and N170 components showed larger amplitudes and longer latency in epilepsy patients in response to face pareidolia stimuli compared to real face images. However, the N170 component latency did not differ significantly between epilepsy patients and healthy participants, while the larger amplitude and longer latency of N100 and P100 responses were evoked in healthy patients. Conclusions: Our results indicate a difference in the neural mechanisms of processing real face information and pareidolia face-like information in TLE patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lung transplantation (LTx) remains the only efficient treatment for selected patients with end-stage pulmonary disease. The age limit for the acceptance of donor organs in LTx is still a matter of debate. We here analyze the impact of donor organ age and the underlying pulmonary disease on short- and long-term outcome and survival after LTx. Methods: Donor and recipient characteristics of LTx recipients at our institution between 03/2003 and 12/2021 were analyzed. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS and GraphPad software. Results: In 230 patients analyzed, donor age ≥ 55 years was associated with a higher incidence of severe primary graft dysfunction (PGD2/3) (46% vs. 31%, p = 0.03) and reduced long-term survival after LTx (1-, 5- and 10-year survival: 75%, 54%, 37% vs. 84%, 76%, 69%, p = 0.006). Notably, this was only significant in recipients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) (PGD: 65%, vs. 37%, p = 0.016; 1-, 5-, and 10-year survival: 62%, 38%, 16% vs. 80%, 76%, 70%, p = 0.0002 respectively). In patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), donor age had no impact on the incidence of PGD2/3 or survival (21% vs. 27%, p = 0.60 and 68% vs. 72%; p = 0.90 respectively). Moreover, we found higher Torque-teno virus (TTV)-DNA levels after LTx in patients with IPF compared to COPD (X2 = 4.57, p = 0.033). Donor age ≥ 55 is an independent risk factor for reduced survival in the whole cohort and patients with IPF specifically. Conclusions: In recipients with IPF, donor organ age ≥ 55 years was associated with a higher incidence of PGD2/3 and reduced survival after LTx. The underlying pulmonary disease may thus be a relevant factor for postoperative graft function and survival. Trial registration number DKRS: DRKS00033312. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phenomenon of adversarial examples is one of the most attractive topics in machine learning research these days. These are particular cases that are able to mislead neural networks, with critical consequences. For this reason, different approaches are considered to tackle the problem. On the one side, defense mechanisms, such as AutoEncoder-based methods, are able to learn from the distribution of adversarial perturbations to detect them. On the other side, chaos theory and Lyapunov exponents (LEs) have also been shown to be useful to characterize them. This work proposes the combination of both domains. The proposed method employs these exponents to add more information to the loss function that is used during an AutoEncoder training process. As a result, this method achieves a general improvement in adversarial examples detection performance for a wide variety of attack methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and objective: Road Traffic Injuries (RTIs) represent the predominant cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Thus, impactful interventions and trustworthy authorities are imperative to mitigate traffic accidents. The present study seeks to assess public trust in traffic accident diminution policies and measures within the country of Iran. Method: This cross-sectional study utilized a questionnaire comprising 31 questions distributed across eight dimensions. The questionnaire's design was informed by a literature review and semi-structured interviews with experts specializing in traffic accidents. The target population consisted of Tabriz city residents, who were selected via convenience sampling. The collected data were then analyzed using SPSS-16 software, employing the T-test, One-way ANOVA, and Pearson correlation coefficient to present the study's results. structural equation modeling (SEM) was conducted using R 4-4-2 programming language. Results: A total of 681 participants completed the questionnaire, yielding a commendable response rate of 88.6%. The majority of participants were male (60.8%), and 86.2% identified as drivers, with 61.8% having experienced driving accidents. The overall score for public trust in RTIs policies was calculated to be 46.9%. The individual scores for specific domains of trust in traffic safety were as follows: safer roads (43.1%), safe vehicle (43.3%), safety laws (48.8%), safe user (51.1%), safe technology (51.5%), road safety management (46.8%). All the latent variables except education are significantly effective on public trust. Conclusion: The study findings indicate relatively low levels of public trust in RTIs policies among the Iranian population. These results emphasize the need for targeted interventions to enhance public confidence in specific aspects of traffic safety. Policymakers can use these insights to implement effective measures, thus contributing to the RTIs and the promotion of road safety in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The beryllium amide and imide complexes [Be(HNMes)2]3, [(py)2Be(HNMes)2], [Be(HNDipp)2]2, [Be(NPh2)(μ2-HNDipp)]2 and [Be(NCPh2)2]3 have been prepared and characterised with NMR and IR spectroscopy as well as single crystal X-ray diffraction. Analysis of the localised molecular orbitals (LMOs) and intrinsic atomic orbital (IAO) atomic charges in the framework of the intrinsic bond orbital (IBO) localization method revealed a covalent bonding network consisting of 2-electron–2-centre and 2-electron–3-centre σ bonds, in which one electron pair of the anionic N-donor ligands is involved. The electron deficiency at the beryllium atoms is partially compensated through additional electron donation from the lone pair at the nitrogen atoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer is a type of non-communicable disease that is responsible for numerous deaths worldwide. Cancer incidence and mortality rates are on the rise due to a combination of factors, such as a growing population, aging, and poor dietary habits. The Allium turcicum Özhatay & Cowley plant is an endemic plant in the area where it grows and is consumed by the public due to its various benefits. This endemic plant, which generally grows in high-altitude regions, is sold in bunches because it is costly, mixed with rock salt, crushed into powder, and consumed as a spice. The cytotoxic and growth-inhibitory effects of A. turcicum Özhatay & Cowley herb extract on human glioblastoma U373 cells, human colorectal carcinoma cell HCT-116, and healthy HUVEC cell lines were determined by the MTT method. After 24 and 48 h of application, logIC50 values in HUVEC, HCT-116, and U373 cells were defined as 3.737, 3.765; 3.513, 3.696, 4.476, and 4.104 µg/mL, respectively. We conducted a cell migration experiment to study the A. turcicum Özhatay & Cowley Extract (ATÖCE) impact on cancer cells' metastatic behavior. Our findings indicate that ATÖCE has an inhibitory effect on the migration potential of the cells used in the study. We conducted experiments using DPPH, ABTS, CUPRAC, and total phenolic content to assess the antioxidant properties of ATÖCE. The findings from the antioxidant activity experiments revealed an activity level of 0.20 ± 0.046 at IC50. Additionally, the total phenolic content was measured to be 0.26 ± 0.044 mg GAE/g. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on young Polish viewers living in Vienna, the capital city of Austria, and their reception of Turkish television series. This is an under-researched audience group. The analysis gives voice to viewers' comments through the use of semi-structured interviews to gain deep insight into their viewer experiences. The study introduces another, less-studied component of analysis by scrutinising the ways in which audiences deploy the media text of Turkish series in defining markers of their own self-identities. The analysis of this reveals ways in which viewers were able to negotiate their placement in diasporic lands and in cultural imaginaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT/A) is a biopharmaceutic widely used for the treatment of neurological diseases and in aesthetic medicine to achieve months-long paralysis of target muscles and glands. Large numbers of mice are used in the mouse bioassay (MBA) for various botulinum-related applications including batch release potency testing, antitoxin testing, countermeasure development, and basic research. BoNT/A intoxication causes severe suffering to the mice used for testing, and application-specific, non-animal alternatives are urgently needed. Cell-based assays (CBA) need to replicate all the physiological steps of botulinum intoxication, comprising neuronal binding, internalization, endosomal escape, and cleavage of synaptosomal-associated protein of 25 kDa (SNAP25). However, the CBA currently in use have limitations. In this study we show that LAN5 cells, a human neuroblastoma-derived cell line, are sensitive to BoNT/A and can be engineered to express a recombinant NanoLuciferase (NanoLuc)-tagged SNAP25 reporter molecule. On exposure, the reporter molecule is cleaved and releases a NanoLuc-SNAP25 fragment that can be captured on a 96-well plate for quantitative luminometry using a cleavage-specific SNAP25 antibody. We demonstrate, using purified BoNT/A and a commercial BoNT/A product, that the sensitivity of this new cell-based assay is in the fM range, comparable to that of the MBA. The new assay could replace the MBA in research and commercial testing of BoNT/A, benefiting both scientific progress and animal welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) holds significant commercial and dietary importance as a major source of edible oil and protein in Turkey. Stem, collar or root rot, caused by several fungal disease agent, are serious soil-borne diseases of peanut. Accurate and precise identification of the disease agent provides fundamental and precise information for integrated plant management. During the period from June to September 2021, symptoms consistent with collar rot disease, including dark-brown stem rot, chlorotic leaves, wilting, and eventual whole plant death, were observed on peanut plants cultivated in the different districts of Osmaniye Province of Turkey. The disease incidence ranged from 8.0 to 45.0% in the inspected fields with an average of 3.4% overall. Twenty-four single-spore representative isolates were obtained from surface-disinfected symptomatic tissues. Morphological characteristics of fungal mycelium, conidial and pycnidial structures on potato sucrose agar (PSA) and water agar (WA) closely resembled those described for Lasiodiplodia spp. All isolates caused typical collar rot symptoms upon artificial inoculation of peanut seedlings. Morphological identification of Lasiodiplodia spp. isolates was corroborated by MALDI-TOF and molecular analyses utilizing sequences from the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), β-tubulin 2 (tub2) and translation elongation factor-1 alpha (TEF1-α) loci. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed that the representative fungal isolates (MKUBK-B1 and MKUBK-K22) belong to Lasiodiplodia pseudotheobromae. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of L. pseudotheobromae infecting peanut plants in Turkey. This work is expected to contribute to previously limited knowledge regarding the host range, incidence and prevalence of L. pseudotheobromae as a soilborne pathogen of peanuts. Due to the potential destructiveness and broad host range of this pathogen, it is essential to develop new strategies to establish more reliable, environmentally sustainable, and cost-effective management approaches for this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to provide a systematic analysis of the nexus of methodological pluralism and digital technology pedagogies in construction education literature. Recent technological advancements transform the built-environment-related fields rapidly, and this transformation has the potential to improve productivity and efficiency in the industry. Alongside this transformation, the future workforce should be equipped with skills to accelerate the adoption of evolving technologies. Considering these, this study systematically reviewed over 100 papers in the construction education literature with a qualitative analysis. The majority of the reviewed studies use quasi-experimental design, and several technological advancements are utilized in teaching core construction concepts, mainly building information modeling (BIM) and extended reality (XR). With the applied nature of the construction domain, various studies utilized technology to introduce virtual site visits, quantity take-off and estimating, visualization, scheduling, surveying, and communication. Together with these, this study contributes to the body of knowledge by revealing methodological approaches commonly used by researchers to help spur the growth of research efforts in digital technology utilization in construction, with its significant potential to be one of the reference guides in the construction education literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a growing body of research in counseling-related fields that investigates the influence of the family of origin experience as a determinant for family patterns. We examined the psychometric properties of the Family of Origin Scale (FOS) in a Turkish sample to establish its applicability as a research tool and proposed a two parallel short version of the FOS. We addressed these objectives in two different studies. The purpose of these studies was to examine the applicability, validity, and reliability of these two FOS in a Turkish samples. In the first study, because of the exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses conducted with two other sample groups of university students, it was found that the theoretically proposed factor structure of the FOS needed to be supported in the Turkish sample. A reliable and valid single-factor structure was obtained in the Turkish-adapted version. In the second study, two short forms, each with 20 items, were created and applied to two different sample groups of university students. Both forms, each measuring intimacy and autonomy, had a single-factor structure and showed a strong and significant correlation with each other and the 40-item FOS. The outcomes of the present investigation indicate a strong and statistically significant link between the shortened and comprehensive forms of the FOS contributing to the assessment in marital family therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the methods of producing protected fat supplements for feed have greatly developed. As a means of preserving unsaturated fats from oxidation, encapsulation has been used by food industry researchers to reduce unpleasant odor and taste, and as an effective method of protecting unsaturated fats. The process of encapsulating involves covering or trapping the target substance(s) in another substance or system. Similarly, vitamins and micronutrient compounds in food do not remain stable for long and are subject to decomposition, which depends on chemical structure, food matrix characteristics, handling parameters, and storage conditions. Consequently, encapsulation can prevent these compounds from being destroyed until they are transferred to the right location or slow down decomposition processes (such as oxidation or hydrolysis). That concept can be expanded to lipids (oils and fats). Currently, emulsion spray drying is the most common method of fine oil microcoating. The mass formation method produces more stable microcoatings with higher oil content than spray drying, as recently discovered. Biodegradable polymers have gained much attention as encapsulation materials. Microencapsulated lipids can increase the meat and milk quality of ruminants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we looked at the variables affecting Turkish attitudes towards seeking psychological help (ASPH). Thus, we aimed to determine the relationships between mental health literacy (MHL), the self-stigma of seeking help, the social stigma of receiving psychological help, masculinity, emotional expression, and ASPH. The research survey consisted of 557 participants aged between 18 and 60 (399 female, 158 male). The stepwise regression analysis indicated that the self-stigma of seeking help could significantly explain 37.1% of the variation in ASPH. The model incorporated the following factors: knowledge-oriented MHL, beliefs-oriented MHL, resource-oriented MHL, emotional expression, and masculinity. Together with self-stigma of seeking help, these factors explained 44.8% of ASPH. Knowledge-oriented MHL made the second-most substantial contribution, explaining 2.8% of the variance, while self-stigma emerged as the most significant contributor. The findings reinforce the importance of MHL in determining ASPH for clients and mental health professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphite is the main anode active material used in commercial lithium ion batteries and it is currently included in the European Union's Critical Raw Materials list. Due to increased demand in the battery market, a global graphite shortage is expected within the next five years. Therefore, an alternative anode active material is needed to substitute graphite. Motivated by this need, this paper proposes a green synthesis method for producing SiOx/C nanocomposite anode active material from an organic waste, namely rice husk, via a single-step induction heating process. In this study, for the first time in the open literature, rice husk is pyrolyzed under a controlled atmosphere with fast heating (> 50 °C/min) to be used as an alternative to graphite for lithium ion batteries. Fast heating is employed to preserve the maximum amount of carbon in the structure with minimal agglomeration. Four samples (800-Ar, 750-Ar, 700-Ar, 700-Ar-H) are fabricated to study the effect of pyrolysis conditions (temperature and atmosphere) on the formation of rice husk-derived amorphous SiOx/C nanocomposite anodes, also referred to as biochar. Their electrochemical performances are then tested. Biochar produced at 700 °C under the argon atmosphere (700-Ar) delivers the highest specific capacities of 1366, 800, and 275 mAh/g in the 1st, 5th, and 200th cycles. This is attributed to the reduction of silica to SiOx and high amount of carbon, which creates conductive pathways in the structure while buffering volumetric expansion during cycling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]