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Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) is a chorioretinal disease that is characterized by central vision loss and is usually seen in middle-aged males. It has been associated with the use of various drugs, including corticosteroids and phosphodiesterase inhibitors. We present the case of a 36-year-old male who developed CSCR after a few weeks of irregular use of quetiapine for his sleep problems. The clinical findings of the patient improved shortly after he stopped using the drug, and at the end of the two-month period complete recovery was observed. Quetiapine is an atypical antipsychotic that exerts its effects on dopamine and serotonin receptors. There are studies showing that these neurotransmitters may play a role in the control of choroidal vascular permeability, which is the underlying cause of CSCR. Therefore, we believe that quetiapine may have a causal relationship with CSCR. To our knowledge, this is the first case report documenting full recovery from quetiapine associated CSCR.

Chemicals used for seed treatments help to increase the agricultural production by preventing pests and pathogens but also cause environmental and health problems. Thus, environmentally-friendly technologies need to be developed for a seed treatment that inactivates surface microflora and improves seed vigor. One such pulsed electric field (PEF) treatment applied to cucumber seeds in the range of 1.07-17.28 Joule (J) significantly enhanced a mean germination rate (MGR) by up to 9%, a normal seedling rate by 25.73%, and a resistance to 100 and 200 mM salt stresses by 96% and 91.67%, respectively, with a stronger and faster growth of roots and seedlings. PEF treatment provided 3.34 and 3.22 log-reductions in the surface microflora of total mold and yeast and total aerobic mesophilic bacteria, respectively. The electrical conductivity (EC) values of the control samples increased over time, from 4 to 24 h. Those of the PEF-treated samples after 4, 12, and 24th hours were also more affected by the measurement time not by the PEF treatment.

In the present note, we have given a new integral identity via Conformable fractional integrals and some further properties. We have proved some integral inequalities for different kinds of convexity via Conformable fractional integrals. We have also showed that special cases of our findings gave some new inequalities involving Riemann-Liouville fractional integrals.

In this paper, we obtain some new inequalities for functions whose second derivatives’ absolute value is s−convex and log −convex. Also, we give some applications for numerical integration.

Serkan Dundar,1 Abubekir Eltas,2 Sema S Hakki,3 Sıddık Malkoc,4 M Ozay Uslu,2 Mehmet Tuzcu,5 James Komorowski,6 I Hanifi Ozercan,7 Fatih Akdemir,8 Kazim Sahin9 1Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, Firat University, Elazig, 2Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, Inonu University, Malatya, 3Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, Selcuk University, Konya, 4Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Inonu University, Malatya, 5Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey; 6Research & Development, Nutrition 21 Inc., Purchase, NY, USA; 7Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, 8Department of Animal Nutrition, Faculty of Fisheries, Inonu University, Malatya, 9Department of Animal Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey Abstract: The purpose of this study was to induce experimental periodontitis in rats previously fed diets containing arginine silicate inositol (ASI) complex and examine the biochemical, immunological, and radiological effects. Fifty two 8-week-old female Sprague Dawley rats were equally divided into four groups. The control group included those fed a standard rat diet with no operation performed during the experiment. The periodontitis, ASI I, and ASI II groups were subjected to experimental periodontitis induction for 11 days after being fed a standard rat diet alone, a diet containing 1.81 g/kg ASI complex, or a diet containing 3.62 g/kg ASI complex, respectively, for 8 weeks. Throughout the 11-day duration of periodontitis induction, all rats were fed standard feed. The rats were euthanized on the eleventh day, and their tissue and blood samples were collected. In the periodontitis group, elevated tissue destruction parameters and reduced tissue formation parameters were found, as compared to the ASI groups. Levels of enzymes, cytokines, and mediators associated with periodontal tissue destruction were lower in rats fed a diet containing ASI complex after experimental periodontitis. These results indicate that ASI complex could be an alternative agent for host modulation. Keywords: arginine silicate inositol complex, experimental periodontitis, host modulation, micro-computed tomography, periodontal infection

Since its first description from Madagaskar, there are about 16 living (Recent) species of the genus Zonocypris reported from Afrotropical, Neotropical and Palearctic regions. Similarly, there are about 16 fossil with two (sub)species of the genus known from the Early Cretaceous (e.g., India, France, Russia, China, Brazil) to Holocene (e.g., Albania). Among the species, the only species known with fossil and living species is Zonocypris costata. In Turkey, Zonocypris membranae with two subspecies (Z. m. membranae,Z. m. quadricella) is the only fossil species known while living individuals of Z. costata were encountered the southeast Anatolia. Additionally, Zonocypris mardinensis n. sp. is now proposed as a new species which shows clear differences in the soft body parts (e.g., aesthetasc ya in A1, knife-type G2 claw, shapes of clasping organs and hemipenis) and carapace structure (e.g., LV with extension, RV with posterior denticles). Overall, living species reported herein seem to inhabit comparatively warm (15–30 °C) within the ranges of slightly acidic to alkaline (pH 6.81–8.44) and low to well oxygenated waters (3.05–18.8 mg/l) where they can tolerate salinity (electrical conductivity 103–1910 μS/cm) values within a limited elevational range (336–991 m). Our results suggest that geographic distribution of the living species of the genus is limited within southern parts of Turkey while fossil forms seem to exhibit much wider distribution in northern parts. Anatolian Diagonal as physical barrier may be considered to play a critical role on separating fossil (east-north regions) and extant (southeast region) species of the genus in Turkey. This is the first supportive evidence provided by the species of the genus Zonocypris that geographic barrier could have played the main role on its distribution.

Objectives: In this study, we evaluated the long-term effects of botulinum toxin A (BTA) in patients diagnosed with benign essential blepharospasm (BEB) and hemifacial spasm (HFS) comparing the drug dose in early and late periods and mean duration of relief. Materials and Methods: The records of patients who were treated with BTA for BEB and HFS were analyzed retrospectively. The patients who had

Abstract Background Distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) instability is a common post-traumatic complication, often leading to chronic pain and dysfunction. Current reconstructive techniques, such as the single suture button construct, offer suboptimal stabilization in certain motions. This study aimed to evaluate whether a double suture button construct provides greater stability than the single construct in a cadaver model of DRUJ instability. We hypothesized that the double suture button construct would more effectively minimize dorsal translation of the radius relative to the ulna. Methods We used nine freshly frozen human cadaver upper extremities, destabilized the DRUJ, and then reconstructed the joint using three different suture button constructs: single transverse, double (transverse + oblique), and single oblique. The specimens were secured in a custom-designed testing apparatus to measure dorsal translation of the radius. The study proceeded in five stages: stable DRUJ, unstable DRUJ, and reconstruction using a single transverse, double (transverse + oblique), and single oblique suture button construct. Dorsal translation was measured at neutral, 45° pronation, and 45° supination. Statistical comparisons of mean values were conducted for each stage. Results Reconstruction with the transverse, transverse plus oblique, and oblique suture button constructs resulted in statistically significant reductions in dorsal translation compared to the unstable DRUJ (p

Pathological upgrading poses a significant challenge in treatment decision-making, particularly for patients considered for active surveillance (AS). This study aimed to devise a novel scoring system to predict the risk of upgrading in patients with biopsy Gleason grade group 1 prostate cancer. We conducted a retrospective review of 235 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy between February 2014 and June 2022. Data on patient age, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, body mass index, clinical T-stage, prior biopsy history, Prostate Imaging-Reporting and Data System (PIRADS) score, time interval from biopsy to surgery, and pathological outcomes were collected. After a comprehensive review of the literature, multivariate analyses identified seven factors associated with upgrading in prostate cancer patients after radical prostatectomy: uninformative prior biopsy sample, PSA level, greatest percentage of tumor involvement, radiological PIRADS score, age, delay from biopsy to surgery and extension of positive cores. These factors were integrated into our devised U.P.G.R.A.D.E. model to form a scoring system. The U.P.G.R.A.D.E. score was calculated based on the cumulative score of these variables. The predictive performance of the U.P.G.R.A.D.E. scoring system was assessed, revealing a cohort with a mean age of 64.22 ± 5.88 years and a mean PSA value of 8.92 ± 5.05 ng/mL. The pathological samples of 95 patients (40.6%) were upgraded, and the upgraded patients exhibited significantly higher U.P.G.R.A.D.E. scores (p < 0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve for the U.P.G.R.A.D.E. scoring system demonstrated robust predictive ability for upgrading (AUROC = 0.952; 95% Confidence interval (CI): 0.926–0.978; p < 0.001). In addition, a higher U.P.G.R.A.D.E. score was strongly associated with an increased risk of upgrading in biopsy Gleason grade group 1 patients, suggesting potential limitations for active surveillance eligibility in these individuals. Further validation studies are warranted to confirm these initial findings.

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears are injuries with a high incidence in athletes, and ACL reconstruction (ACLR) is a surgical treatment orthopedists perform. This study aims to compare the 6 and 12 months post-op results of single leg hop tests (SLHT) performed in multidirectional conventional semitendinosus/gracilis (ST/G) and modified all inside (MAI) ACLR techniques on both sides and the limb symmetry indexes (LSI) of both techniques. This study evaluated a retrospective cohort of 50 male athletes who applied MAI (n = 23) and traditional ACLR ST/G (n = 27) techniques. Functional knee strength of the participants on both sides was measured with different SLHTs at 6 and 12 months postoperatively. The SLHT included medial side (MSTH), triple hop (TH), medial rotation (90°) (MRH), crossover triple (CH) ve the single hop (SH) hop for distance. Both ACLR techniques showed significant improvement in mean Tegner, International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) and Lysholm scores preoperatively and at 6 and 12 months postoperatively (p < 0.05). For MAI and ST/G techniques, there was no significant difference in the results of SLHTs at 6 and 12 months for both the operated and non-operated sides (p < 0.05). Significance was found only in the MRH test of the non-operated side (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in SLHT scores between the operated and non-operated sides at 6 and 12 months postoperatively (p > 0.05). There was no difference in LSI scores between techniques (p < 0.05). Our study revealed similar LSI rates in ST/G and MAI techniques at 6 and 12 months, suggesting that MAI technique can be used as a functional ACLR technique for athletes.

Climate change has emerged as a pressing concern affecting nations worldwide, particularly within the African continent, including Benin. Given that maize stands as a staple cereal in Benin, this research to assess the impact and predict the effects of climate change on maize production by the year 2050. To attain this objective, an assortment of data encompassing climatic conditions, demographic factors, fertilizer application levels, and emissions of environmental pollutants has been collected and analyzed. The data analysis based on ARDL and ARIMA models has unveiled those variables such as emissions of CO2 and CH4 through food waste, peak temperatures, precipitation patterns, and rural population density exert considerable immediate influence over maize production volumes. The predictive models portend an upswing in national maize production volume, albeit accompanied by a probable decline in per capita availability. Policies aimed at controlling activities that generate high levels of air pollutants should be formulated to increase production capacities.

Abstract Analyses of complex behaviors of Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) have become increasingly important in diseases diagnosis. The changes of the phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (PC-MRI) signal formed by the velocity of flowing CSF are represented as a set of velocity-encoded images or maps, which can be thought of as signal data in the context of medical imaging, enabling the evaluation of pulsatile patterns throughout a cardiac cycle. However, automatic segmentation of the CSF region in a PC-MRI image is challenging, and implementing an explained ML method using pulsatile data as a feature remains unexplored. This paper presents lightweight machine learning (ML) algorithms to perform CSF lumen segmentation in spinal, utilizing sets of velocity-encoded images or maps as a feature. The Dataset contains 57 PC-MRI slabs by 3T MRI scanner from control and idiopathic scoliosis participants are involved to collect data. The ML models are trained with 2176 time series images. Different cardiac periods image (frame) numbers of PC-MRIs are interpolated in the preprocessing step to align to features of equal size. The fivefold cross-validation procedure is used to estimate the success of the ML models. Additionally, the study focusses on enhancing the interpretability of the highest-accuracy eXtreme gradient boosting (XGB) model by applying the shapley additive explanations (SHAP) technique. The XGB algorithm presented its highest accuracy, with an average fivefold accuracy of 0.99% precision, 0.95% recall, and 0.97% F1 score. We evaluated the significance of each pulsatile feature's contribution to predictions, offering a more profound understanding of the model's behavior in distinguishing CSF lumen pixels with SHAP. Introducing a novel approach in the field, develop ML models offer comprehension into feature extraction and selection from PC-MRI pulsatile data. Moreover, the explained ML model offers novel and valuable insights to domain experts, contributing to an enhanced scholarly understanding of CSF dynamics.

The coexistence of different types of wide QRS complex tachycardias induced by the same trigger has rarely been observed. The electrical instability and incessant nature of tachycardias can cause tachycardiomyopathy and will not allow accurate diagnosis during an electrophysiological study (EPS). In case of an electrical storm, elimination of the trigger may be the first approach to provide patient stability. We report a successfully managed case of repetitive initiation of pleomorphic ventricular tachycardia and Mahaim-type antidromic atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia, induced by a premature ventricular complex in the right ventricular outflow tract.

While the aircraft is moving in the opposite direction of the flow in the air, the wind resistance and the moment effect due to this resistance negatively affect the flight performance. In design studies, it is aimed to increase aerodynamic performance by minimizing these two negative factors. In this study, the effect of wing cross section and three-dimensional airfoil on aerodynamic performance is investigated numerically. Within the scope of this study, to reach the intended design, biomimetic design approach was used and new-wing designs were created to mimic the bird species’ wings, which have the highest aerodynamic performance in nature. Based on the literature search for two-dimensional wing section selection, it was seen that the most preferred sections were identified and compared with the wing section of the Cessna 172 aircraft (NACA2412) in flow analysis. In the flow analysis conducted in the XFLR5 program, the aerodynamic performances of the wing sections at Reynolds value and angle of attack were investigated. According to this analysis, the aerodynamic efficiency of the NACA2412 section was higher than that of the other sections. In the three-dimensional flow analysis, biomimetic wing designs and the wing of the Cessna 172 aircraft were examined in the XFLR5 program at a cruising speed and angle of attack. It was observed that the aerodynamic efficiency of the wing design, which is inspired by the albatross, is higher than the other designs. Owing to the flow analysis, the albatross wing design provided 6.26% improvement in the lift coefficient, 15.73% in drag coefficient and 15.16% improvement in the glide ratio compared to the Cessna 172 aircraft wing design. For structural analysis, the pressure values obtained from the flow analysis results were used as the load distribution on the wing. In the designs created using the same material, it was observed that the weight of the wing inspired by the albatross was 34.156% less weight and 50.902% less deformation value obtained compared to Cessna 172 aircraft.

As population increases, one of the factors affecting life is traffic. Efficient traffic management has a direct positive impact on issues such as time, carbon dioxide emissions, and fuel consumption. Today, an important parameter under the heading of traffic is the signalling systems for intersections, which are operated with fixed-time, semi-actuated, fully actuated, and fully adaptive control methods. In this study, an adaptive traffic management model is developed for signalised intersections. The adaptive traffic management model developed includes phase extension with minimum and maximum time intervals dependent on density and phase skip features. Additionally, the most distinctive feature of the model is its flexible phase structure rather than a sequential phase. The Heybe intersection, located within the boundaries of Antalya province, is modelled one-to-one in the simulation of urban mobility (SUMO) simulation programme with real intersection data. The developed adaptive traffic management model is applied to the Heybe intersection, and the effects of the model are revealed. Improvements obtained from the SUMO simulation programme were verified through visual inspection, and high-accuracy results were determined. As a result of the studies, it was found that the application of the adaptive traffic management model developed at Heybe intersection, which has approximately 50,000 vehicles passing daily, resulted in a 27.2 % improvement in the average delay per vehicle parameter, a 32.4 % improvement in the average waiting time per vehicle parameter, and a 16.7 % improvement in the average speed per vehicle parameter.

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.

Background Rotator cuff tears commonly cause shoulder pain and functional impairment, prompting surgical intervention such as mini-open and arthroscopic methods, each with distinct benefits. This study aimed to compare the clinical outcomes and complications of these two approaches. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 165 patients who underwent rotator cuff repair using either arthroscopic-assisted mini-open or full arthroscopic approaches. Patient demographics, tear characteristics, clinical outcomes, and complications were assessed, with statistical analyses conducted to discern differences between the groups. Results Among the patients, 74 (53.2%) received the mini-open approach, while 65 (46.8%) underwent arthroscopic repair, with a mean follow-up of 19.91 months. The mini-open group exhibited significantly higher postoperative American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) scores compared to the arthroscopic group (P=0.002). Additionally, the mini-open group demonstrated a more significant improvement in ASES scores from preoperative to postoperative assessments (P=0.001). However, the arthroscopic method had a significantly longer operative time (P

OBJECTIVE: Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) screening is strongly recommended in the pre-transplant evaluation of solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients, although it remains inadequate in many transplant centers. We decided to investigate pre-transplant TB risk assessment, LTBI treatment, and registry rates in Turkey. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Adult SOT recipients who underwent tuberculin skin test (TST) and/or interferon-gamma release test (IGRA) from 14 centers between 2015 and 2019 were included in the study. An induration of ≥5 mm on TST and/or probable/positive IGRA (QuantiFERON-TB) was considered positive for LTBI. Demographic features, LTBI screening and treatment, and pre-/post-transplant TB history were recorded from the electronic database of transplantation units across the country and pooled at a single center for a unified database. RESULTS: TST and/or IGRA were performed in 766 (33.8%) of 2266 screened patients most of whom were kidney transplant recipients (n = 485, 63.4%). LTBI screening test was positive in 359 (46.9%) patients, and isoniazid was given to 203 (56.5%) patients. Of the patients treated for LTBI, 112 (55.2%) were registered in the national registry, and 82 (73.2%) completed the treatment. Tuberculosis developed in 6 (1.06%) of 563 patients who were not offered LTBI treatment. CONCLUSION: We determined that overall, only one-third of SOT recipients in our country were evaluated in terms of TB risk, only 1 of the 2 SOT recipients with LTBI received treatment, and half were registered. Therefore, we want to emphasize the critical importance of pretransplant TB risk stratification and registration, guided by revised national guidelines.

Objective: Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) vaccination rates among pregnant women are lower than the general population. This study aimed to determine the impact of COVID-19 phobia and vaccination attitudes among pregnant women. Methods: This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted online with 254 pregnant women between May 2022 and December 2022; sociodemographic characteristics, COVID-19 vaccination data, Coronavirus Phobia Scale, and Anti-vaccine Scale of women with pregnancies older than 12 weeks of gestation were compared. Results: Our study determined that 68.5% of pregnant women received COVID-19 vaccination before pregnancy and 4.7% during pregnancy. It was determined that 30% of pregnant women did not know about COVID-19 vaccines. It was determined that there was a significant positive correlation between COVID-19 phobia and anti-vaccination levels. COVID-19 phobia was higher in pregnant women with children and low economic income. It was determined that women who had never been vaccinated had higher levels of anti-vaccination. Conclusion: Lack of information, having children, low economic income, the belief that the vaccine will have adverse side effects on the pregnant woman and her baby, and COVID-19 phobia were associated with low vaccination rates in pregnant women. These factors should be considered to raise public awareness and increase vaccination in pregnant women.

Abstract Background Multilocus pathogenic variants (MPVs) are genetic changes that affect multiple gene loci or regions of the genome, collectively leading to multiple molecular diagnoses. MPVs may also contribute to intrafamilial phenotypic variability between affected individuals within a nuclear family. In this study, we aim to gain further insights into the influence of MPVs on a disease manifestation in individual research subjects and explore the complexities of the human genome within a familial context. Methods We conducted a systematic reanalysis of exome sequencing data and runs of homozygosity (ROH) regions of 47 sibling pairs previously diagnosed with various neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD). Results We found siblings with MPVs driven by long ROH regions in 8.5% of families (4/47). The patients with MPVs exhibited significantly higher FROH values (p-value = 1.4e-2) and larger total ROH length (p-value = 1.8e-2). Long ROH regions mainly contribute to this pattern; the siblings with MPVs have a larger total size of long ROH regions than their siblings in all families (p-value = 6.9e-3). Whereas the short ROH regions in the siblings with MPVs are lower in total size compared to their sibling pairs with single locus pathogenic variants (p-value = 0.029), and there are no statistically significant differences in medium ROH regions between sibling pairs (p-value = 0.52). Conclusion This study sheds light on the significance of considering MPVs in families with affected sibling pairs and the role of ROH as an adjuvant tool in explaining clinical variability within families. Identifying individuals carrying MPVs may have implications for disease management, identification of possible disease risks to different family members, genetic counseling and exploring personalized treatment approaches.

INTRODUCTION: Syringic acid (SA), a natural phenolic substance, possesses anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. We investigated the likely preventive effects of SA on organ damage to the reproductive system caused by bilateral ovarian ischemia-reperfusion (I/R). METHODS: 32 female Sprague-Dawley rats in total were used; they were split into four groups: a sham group for control (group I), I/R group (group II), I/R group given 10 mg/kg SA (group III), and an I/R group given 50 mg/kg SA (group IV). Group I underwent only an abdominal incision without I/R. In groups II, III, and IV, I/R procedures were conducted for 3 hours. SA was given intraperitoneally to groups III and IV for 30 minutes before reperfusion at 10 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg, respectively. The ovarian tissues were surgically removed for analysis. RESULTS: TNF-α, MDA, IL-1β, MPO, TOS and OSI levels in group II were found to be significantly higher than in group I. Additionally, a decrease was detected in TAS and SOD values in group II. In contrast, SA administration led to significant increases in the level of antioxidant enzymes in both groups III and IV. Also, in the SA-given groups, significant decreases were detected in OSI and TOS levels, along with a decrease in MPO, MDA, TNF-α, and IL-1β levels. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: It has been demonstrated that SA has a protective effect against organ damage caused by bilateral ovarian I/R in the reproductive system. This is the first study to show that SA can reduce ovarian damage due to I/R injury.

Abstract Background NODAL signaling plays a critical role in embryonic patterning and heart development in vertebrates. Genetic variants resulting in perturbations of the TGF-β/NODAL signaling pathway have reproducibly been shown to cause laterality defects in humans. To further explore this association and improve genetic diagnosis, the study aims to identify and characterize a broader range of NODAL variants in a large number of individuals with laterality defects. Methods We re-analyzed a cohort of 321 proband-only exomes of individuals with clinically diagnosed laterality congenital heart disease (CHD) using family-based, rare variant genomic analyses. To this cohort we added 12 affected subjects with known NODAL variants and CHD from institutional research and clinical cohorts to investigate an allelic series. For those with candidate contributory variants, variant allele confirmation and segregation analysis were studied by Sanger sequencing in available family members. Array comparative genomic hybridization and droplet digital PCR were utilized for copy number variants (CNV) validation and characterization. We performed Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO)-based quantitative phenotypic analyses to dissect allele-specific phenotypic differences. Results Missense, nonsense, splice site, indels, and/or structural variants of NODAL were identified as potential causes of heterotaxy and other laterality defects in 33 CHD cases. We describe a recurrent complex indel variant for which the nucleic acid secondary structure predictions implicate secondary structure mutagenesis as a possible mechanism for formation. We identified two CNV deletion alleles spanning NODAL in two unrelated CHD cases. Furthermore, 17 CHD individuals were found (16/17 with known Hispanic ancestry) to have the c.778G > A:p.G260R NODAL missense variant which we propose reclassification from variant of uncertain significance (VUS) to likely pathogenic. Quantitative HPO-based analyses of the observed clinical phenotype for all cases with p.G260R variation, including heterozygous, homozygous, and compound heterozygous cases, reveal clustering of individuals with biallelic variation. This finding provides evidence for a genotypic-phenotypic correlation and an allele-specific gene dosage model. Conclusion Our data further support a role for rare deleterious variants in NODAL as a cause for sporadic human laterality defects, expand the repertoire of observed anatomical complexity of potential cardiovascular anomalies, and implicate an allele specific gene dosage model.

Abstract Around 60% of households in Texas currently rely on electricity for space heating. As decarbonization efforts increase, non‐electrified households could adopt electric heat pumps, significantly increasing peak (highest) electricity demand in winter. Simultaneously, anthropogenic climate change is expected to increase temperatures, the potential for summer heat waves, and associated electricity demand for cooling. Uncertainty regarding the timing and magnitude of these concurrent changes raises questions about how they will jointly affect the seasonality of peak demand, firm capacity requirements, and grid reliability. This study investigates the net effects of residential space heating electrification and climate change on long‐term demand patterns and load shedding potential, using climate change projections, a predictive load model, and a direct current optimal power flow (DCOPF) model of the Texas grid. Results show that full electrification of residential space heating by replacing existing fossil fuel use with higher efficiency heat pumps could significantly improve reliability under hotter futures. Less efficient heat pumps may result in more severe winter peaking events and increased reliability risks. As heating electrification intensifies, system planners will need to balance the potential for greater resource adequacy risk caused by shifts in seasonal peaking behavior alongside the benefits (improved efficiency and reductions in emissions).

Abstract It has been proposed that cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) can enter and leave the retina and optic nerve along perivascular spaces surrounding the central retinal vessels as part of an aquaporin-4 (AQP4) dependent ocular ‘glymphatic’ system. Here, we injected fluorescent dextrans and antibodies into the CSF of mice at the cisterna magna and measured their distribution in the optic nerve and retina. We found that uptake of dextrans in the perivascular spaces and parenchyma of the optic nerve is highly sensitive to the cisternal injection rate, where high injection rates, in which dextran disperses fully in the sub-arachnoid space, led to uptake along the full length of the optic nerve. Accumulation of dextrans in the optic nerve did not differ significantly in wild-type and AQP4 knockout mice. Dextrans did not enter the retina, even when intracranial pressure was greatly increased over intraocular pressure. However, elevation of intraocular pressure reduced accumulation of fluorescent dextrans in the optic nerve head, and intravitreally injected dextrans left the retina via perivascular spaces surrounding the central retinal vessels. Human IgG distributed throughout the perivascular and parenchymal areas of the optic nerve to a similar extent as dextran following cisternal injection. However, uptake of a cisternally injected AQP4-IgG antibody, derived from a seropositive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder subject, was limited by AQP4 binding. We conclude that large molecules injected in the CSF can accumulate along the length of the optic nerve if they are fully dispersed in the optic nerve sub-arachnoid space but that they do not enter the retina.

Difficult airway is a serious condition that can be fatal and is frequently encountered during general anesthesia applications. Tracheobronkopathy osteochondroplasty (TBO) is a rare benign disease that is one of the causes of unpredictable difficult airway. A 45-year-old male patient with no comorbidities was transferred to the operating room for elective cholecystectomy. He couldn’t be intubated after standard monitoring and induction of anesthesia. The patient, who had papillomatous lesions in the trachea detected by bronchoscopy, was awakened to be scheduled for rigid bronchoscopy. TBO was detected in pathological examination of the samples taken in rigid bronchoscopy. TBO is a rare benign disease. Its etiology is unknown. It may be asymptomatic or may present with persistent dry cough, hemoptysis, dyspnea, recurrent lower respiratory tract infection, atelectasis and difficult intubation. Some patients may be diagnosed for the first time in the operating room due to difficult intubation.In cases with advanced tracheal stenosis, invasive airway intervention may be required or it may have a fatal course. The use of a laryngeal mask in the perioperative period may be an ideal option in a patient known to have TBO before. Unexpected difficult airway management in the operating room is important for anesthesiologists. According to the difficult airway society algorithm, waking the patient from a planned operation is the safest way until the problem is detected. We did not need invasive intervention because our patient also had elective surgery and ventilation was not difficult. In addition, we think that it is an important decision to make a diagnosis using fiberobtic bronchoscopy in operating room conditions and to wake up our patient with sugammadex without repeated attemps of tracheal intubation and delay elective surgery. In coclusion, it should be kept in mind that TBO may be one of the unpredictable causes of difficult intubation in the operating room.

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of mechanical and ultrasound-assisted stirring methods for varnish + components mixing on the varnish layer coating adhesion, surface roughness and glossiness. For this purpose, polyurethane, acrylic and polyester varnish systems were applied on three different wood types, namely Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), Eastern beech (Fagus orientalis L.) and Mahogany (Khaya ivorensis), with mechanical and ultrasound-assisted mixing methods. In the mechanical mixing method, 3 and 5 minutes were applied, while in the ultrasonic mixing method, beside 3- and 5- minute stirring time, 80-watt, and 120-watt ultrasonic power was applied during mixing. When research results are generally evaluated, it cannot be said that ultrasound-assisted mixing method is superior to mechanical mixing method. However, the ultrasound-assisted mixing of varnish components at 80 watts for 3 minutes can be recommended.

Objective: In this study, the efficacy, complication rates, and treatment results of cold knife and holmium:yttrium aluminum garnet (Ho:YAG) laser for treating urethral stricture was compared. Materials and Methods: A total of 364 cases were operated with the diagnosis of urethral stricture between 2010 and 2020. Of these patients, 176 were operated using a cold knife and 188 using a Ho:YAG laser. Preoperatively and postoperatively, uroflowmetry, post-voiding residue (PVR), International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), and IPSS/quality of life (IPSS/QoL) values were determined in all patients. Additionally, complication rates, operation times, and stricture recurrence rates were determined. Results: The length of the stricture in all cases was less than 3 cm. The maximum flow rate (Qmax), average flow rate (Qave), PVR, IPSS and IPSS/QoL values of the patients were determined as 8.16/6.45 mL/s, 4.36/4.62 mL/s, 124.50/135.65 mL, 20.33/23.55, 5.25/5.40 in the preoperative period in group 1 and group 2, respectively. In the postoperative 12th months, it was determined as 25.43/27.48 mL/s, 21.32/23.08 mL/s, 25.50/19.04 mL, 7.08/6.06, and 1.36/1.23. Stricture recurrence rates were 29.54% (n=52) and 10.63% (n=20) in groups 1 and 2, respectively. Conclusion: Long-term recurrence rates are lower with the use of Ho:YAG laser in urethral strictures compared to cold knife.

Aim: The flexor retinaculum lies between the medial malleolus of the tibia and the medial process of the calcaneus. It converts grooves on the tibia and calcaneus into the tarsal tunnel. The aim of this study was to analyze the morphometry, the course, and the shape of the flexor retinaculum covering the tarsal tunnel in formaldehyde-fixed cadavers. Material and Methods: Six lower extremities of four formaldehyde-fixed cadavers (four right sides, and 2 left sides) were examined to evaluate the morphometry of the flexor retinaculum. The cadavers were two females and two males with an age range of 60-89 years. A digital caliper (150 mm) and a light microscope were used for measuring parameters. The central length, proximal, midpoint, and distal width, thickness, course, and shape of the flexor retinaculum were examined in this study. Results: The mean central length of the flexor retinaculum was found 42.26±5.18 mm. The mean proximal, midpoint, and distal width of the flexor retinaculum were 29.29±7.29 mm, 29.92±3.66 mm, and 29.76±8.13 mm, respectively. The mean of the thickness was measured at 234.94 µm. The flexor retinaculum coursed vertically in four extremities and coursed obliquely in two extremities. The shape of the retinaculum was triangular in five extremities and quadrangular in only one extremity. Conclusion: The morphometric data obtained from this study can help surgeons during the operations of the tarsal tunnel syndrome. To our knowledge, the width and course of the flexor retinaculum were examined for the first time in this study.

Sarcomas are a heterogeneous group of malignant tumors of mesenchymal origin. 18 Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-Positron Emission Tomography (PET)/Computed Tomography (CT) is a combined imaging modality that could provide an anatomic and functional assessment of many solid tumors. In this study, the association between primary tumor characteristics (grade, histologic type, stage, localization) and the FDG-PET/ CT data of the primary tumor at the diagnosis were evaluated. The study aimed to determine the diagnostic role of numerical metabolic values determined in PET/CT in predicting grade, prognosis, and other patient characteristics of sarcoma patients. Patients with soft tissue and bone sarcoma who applied to the oncology department of Gazi University Faculty of Medicine between 2000 and 2014 were evaluated retrospectively. All patients underwent PET imaging with FDG before initiation of neoadjuvant chemotherapy or resection. Sarcoma patients (27 soft tissue, 18 bone sarcoma) were evaluated retrospectively in this study. Tumor size was found to correlate with SUVmax. Histologic grade was found to be associated with tumor 18F-FDG, but this was not statistically significant because of the small patient number. The optimal cut-off SUVmax value in showing the difference between low and high grades was 5.5. Overall survival was shown to be shorter in patients with SUVmax ≥5.5. In this study, we aimed to show the relationship between histologic grade and tumor metabolic activity. PET-CT could give an idea about tumor histologic grade and predict survival. It has an important role in diagnosis and also in determining the prognosis. [Med-Science 2023; 12(4.000): 1218-22]

Âhiret kelimesi, Kur'anın temel kavramlarından biridir. Dünyevi anlam boyutu yanında, öteki dünya ve inanca yönelik anlamları ile öne çıkmaktadır. Âhiret kelimesi Kur'an'da 116 yerde müennes (âhiret (آخِرة) formunda yirmi altı yerde ise müzekker (âhir (الْاٰخِر) formunda el-yevm kelimesine sıfat olarak kullanılmıştır. Kur'an'da âhiret ile eşanlamlı olan kelimelerin yanı sıra zıt anlamlı olan kelimelerde kullanılmıştır. Âhiret, öteki dünya anlamında ölümle başlayan sonsuz ve ebedî bir hayattır. İnsanın dünyadaki söz ve elemlerinin sorulacağı ve karşılık bulacağı bir hayattır. Âhiret, farklı evreleri olan, şartları ve özellikleri ile dünyadan farklı bir âlemdir. Âhiret; ölüm, berzâh, kıyâmet, haşr-mahşer, hesap, sırat, cennet-cehennem aşamalarından oluşur. Âhiret, insanın dünyada söz ve eylemlerinin sorgulanacağı, iman ve iyi amelleri olanın ödül (cennet), inkâr ve kötü amelleri olanın ceza göreceği (cehennem) bir âlemdir. Kur'an, âhireti bir iman ilkesi olarak ele almış, ağırlıklı olarak Allah'a iman ilkesi ile birlikte konu etmiştir. Âhirete iman, ğaybi bir konudur. Kur'an bu konuyu, iman ilkesi yanında dünyada yaşanan bir takım tabiat olayları ile de aklî bir zeminde konu etmiştir.

Improving the performance at signalized intersections can be achieved through different management styles or sensor technologies. It is crucial that we measure the real-time impact of these variables on intersection performance. This study introduces a Bluetooth-based real-time performance measurement system applicable to all signalized intersections. Additionally, the developed method serves as a feedback tool for adaptive intersection management systems, providing valuable data input for performance optimization. The method developed in the study is applied at the Refik Cesur Intersection in the Polatlı district of Ankara where delay values are calculated based on traffic flows and data from Bluetooth sensors positioned at strategic locations. Initially, the intersection operated under a fixed-time signaling system, followed by a fully adaptive signaling system the next day. The performance of these two systems is compared using the Bluetooth-based application. The results show that the average delay per vehicle per day is 58.1 seconds/vehicle for the fixed-time system and 45.3 seconds/vehicle for the adaptive system. To validate the Bluetooth-based performance measurement system, the intersection is modeled and simulated using Aimsun Simulation Software Next 20.0.4. The simulation results confirm the findings of the Bluetooth-based analysis, demonstrating the effectiveness of the adaptive signaling system in reducing delays.

Background/Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the connection between the systemic inflammation response index (SIRI) values and failure patterns of patients with IDH wild-type glioblastoma (GB) who underwent radiotherapy (RT) with FLAIR-based gross tumor volume (GTV) delineation. Methods: Seventy-one patients who received RT at a dose of 60 Gy to the GTV and 50 Gy to the clinical target volume (CTV) and had documented recurrence were retrospectively analyzed. Each patient’s maximum distance of recurrence (MDR) from the GTV was documented in whichever plane it extended the farthest. The failure patterns were described as intra-GTV, in-CTV/out-GTV, distant, and intra-GTV and distant. For analytical purposes, the failure pattern was categorized into two groups, namely Group 1, intra-GTV or in-CTV/out-GTV, and Group 2, distant or intra-GTV and distant. The SIRI was calculated before surgery and corticosteroid administration. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to determine the optimal SIRI cut-off that distinguishes between the different failure patterns. Results: Failure occurred as follows: intra-GTV in 40 (56.3%), in-CTV/out-GTV in 4 (5.6%), distant in 18 (25.4%), and intra-GTV + distant in 9 (12.7%) patients. The mean MDR was 13.5 mm, and recurrent lesions extended beyond 15 mm in only seven patients. Patients with an SIRI score ≥ 3 demonstrated a significantly higher incidence of Group 1 failure patterns than their counterparts with an SIRI score < 3 (74.3% vs. 50.0%; p = 0.035). Conclusions: The present results show that using the SIRI with a cut-off value of ≥3 significantly predicts failure patterns. Additionally, the margin for the GTV can be safely reduced to 15 mm when using FLAIR-based target delineation in patients with GB.

Background: Ischemia-reperfusion injury presents a substantial concern in various medical scenarios, notably in reconstructive surgery involving tissue flaps. Despite reports on the protective benefits of Propionyl-l-carnitine against ischemia-reperfusion injury, a thorough assessment of its efficacy in epigastric island flap models is currently lacking. Methods: Sixteen male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent epigastric island flap surgery and were divided into two groups: a Propionyl-l-carnitine group that received intraperitoneal Propionyl-l-carnitine prior to ischemia induction and a sham group that received saline treatment. A comprehensive evaluation was performed including macroscopic, biochemical and histological assessments encompassing measurements of flap survival areas, lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde), glutathione, myeloperoxidase, nitric oxide and peripheral neutrophil counts. Results: The Propionyl-l-carnitine group demonstrated significantly increased flap survival areas when compared to the sham group. Administration of Propionyl-l-carnitine led to reduced malondialdehyde levels and elevated glutathione levels indicating a reduction in oxidative stress. Furthermore, the Propionyl-l-carnitine group exhibited lower myeloperoxidase levels, higher nitric oxide levels and reduced peripheral neutrophil counts, suggesting a decrease in the inflammatory response. Histopathological analysis revealed decreased levels of inflammation, necrosis, polymorphonuclear leukocyte infiltration and edema in the Propionyl-l-carnitine group. Additionally, vascularity was enhanced in the Propionyl-l-carnitine group. Conclusion: This study provides compelling evidence that Propionyl-l-carnitine administration effectively mitigates the deleterious effects of ischemia-reperfusion injury in epigastric island flaps. This is substantiated by the improved flap survival, diminished oxidative stress and inflammation, as well as the enhanced vascularity observed. Propionyl-l-carnitine emerges as a promising therapeutic intervention to enhance tissue flap survival in reconstructive surgery, warranting further exploration through larger-scale investigations.

Abstract Background Diabetic nephropathy is one of major complications of diabetes mellitus. Although chromium is an essential element for carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, its effects on diabetic nephropathy are not well understood. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of chromium picolinate (CrPic) and chromium histidinate (CrHis) on nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and nuclear factor-E2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) pathway in the rat kidney. Methods Male Wistar rats were divided into six groups. Group I received a standard diet (8% fat) and served as a control; Group II was fed with a standard diet and received CrPic; Group III was fed with a standard diet and received CrHis; Group IV received a high fat diet (HFD, 40% fat) for 2 weeks and then were injected with streptozotocin (STZ) (HFD/STZ); Group V was treated as group IV (HFD/STZ) but supplemented with CrPic for 12 weeks. Group VI was treated as group IV (HFD/STZ) but supplemented with CrHis. Results The increased NF-κβ p65 in the HFD/STZ group was inhibited by CrPic and CrHis supplementation (P < 0.05). In STZ-treated rats, a significant decrease in levels of nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells inhibitor, alpha (IκBα) was found in kidney tissues when compared to control rats (P < 0.05). A significant increase in the levels of IκBα was observed in CrPic- and CrHis-treated rats when compared with STZ-treated rats. Renal Nrf2 levels were significantly decreased in diabetic rats compared with the control rats. There was a higher tendency for increase of kidney Nrf2 level and decrease in kidney NFκBp65 levels and 4- hydroxyl nonenal (4-HNE) protein adducts (P < 0.05) in diabetic rats. Conclusion Our result show that in kidney tissue CrHis/CrPic increases Nrf2 level, parallelly decreases NF-κB and partially restores IκBα levels in HFD/STZ group, suggesting that CrPic and CrHis may play a role in antioxidant defense system via the Nrf2 pathway by reducing inflammation through NF-κβ p65 inhibition. Moreover, a greater reduction in NF-κB expression and greater increases in expressions of IκBα and Nrf2 in diabetic rats supplemented with CrHis than rats supplemented with CrPic suggest that CrHis has more favorable effects than CrPic.

Abstract Background Chromium (Cr) is an essential trace element that has garnered interest for use as a weight loss aid, but its molecular mechanism in obesity is not clear. In this study, an attempt has been made to investigate the effects of chromium histidinate (CrHis) on glucose transporter-2 (GLUT-2), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB p65) and the oxidative stress marker 4-hydroxynonenal adducts (HNE) expressions in liver of rats fed high fat diet (HFD). Methods Male Wistar rats (n = 40, 8 wk-old) were divided into four groups. Group I was fed a standard diet (12% of calories as fat); Group II was fed a standard diet and supplemented with 110 μg CrHis/kg BW/d; Group III was fed a HFD (40% of calories as fat); Group IV was fed HFD and supplemented with 110 μg CrHis/kg BW/d. Results Rats fed HFD possessed greater serum insulin (40 vs.33 pmol/L) and glucose (158 vs. 143 mg/dL) concentration and less liver Cr (44 vs.82 μg/g) concentration than rats fed the control diet. However, rats supplemented with CrHis had greater liver Cr and serum insulin and lower glucose concentration in rats fed HFD (P < 0.05). The hepatic nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB p65) and HNE were increased in high fat group compared to control group, but reduced by the CrHis administration (P < 0.05). The levels of hepatic Nrf2 and HO-1 were increased by supplementation of CrHis (P < 0.05). Conclusion These findings demonstrate that supplementation of CrHis is protective against obesity, at least in part, through Nrf2-mediated induction of HO-1 in rats fed high fat diet.

Abstract We present a method for characterizing human activities using 3D deformable shape models. The motion trajectories of points extracted from objects involved in the activity are used to build models for each activity, and these models are used for classification and detection of unusual activities. The deformable models are learnt using the factorization theorem for nonrigid 3D models. We present a theory for characterizing the degree of deformation in the 3D models from a sequence of tracked observations. This degree, termed as deformation index (DI), is used as an input to the 3D model estimation process. We study the special case of ground plane activities in detail because of its importance in video surveillance applications. We present results of our activity modeling approach using videos of both high-resolution single individual activities and ground plane surveillance activities.

Purpose: The variome of the Turkish (TK) population, a population with a considerable history of admixture and consanguinity, has not been deeply investigated for insights on the genomic architecture of disease. Methods: We generated and analyzed a database of variants derived from exome sequencing data of 773 TK unrelated, clinically affected individuals with various suspected Mendelian disease traits and 643 unaffected relatives. Results: Using uniform manifold approximation and projection, we showed that the TK genomes are more similar to those of Europeans and consist of 2 main subpopulations: clusters 1 and 2 (N = 235 and 1181, respectively), which differ in admixture proportion and variome (https://turkishvariomedb.shinyapps.io/tvdb/). Furthermore, the higher inbreeding coefficient values observed in the TK affected compared with unaffected individuals correlated with a larger median span of long-sized (>2.64 Mb) runs of homozygosity (ROH) regions (P value = 2.09e-18). We show that long-sized ROHs are more likely to be formed on recently configured haplotypes enriched for rare homozygous deleterious variants in the TK affected compared with TK unaffected individuals (P value = 3.35e-11). Analysis of genotype-phenotype correlations reveals that genes with rare homozygous deleterious variants in long-sized ROHs provide the most comprehensive set of molecular diagnoses for the observed disease traits with a systematic quantitative analysis of Human Phenotype Ontology terms. Conclusion: Our findings support the notion that novel rare variants on newly configured haplotypes arising within the recent past generations of a family or clan contribute significantly to recessive disease traits in the TK population.

AbstractRice plays a major role in the fight against food insecurity in developing countries such as Benin. The objective of this research is to evaluate the determinants of technical efficiency, the factors influencing this efficiency, as well as the constraints related to rice production in Benin. The technical efficiency levels were obtained from the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) method and were regressed in a Tobit regression model to assess the determinants of the efficiency of rice producers. Production constraints were identified using Kendall’s W concordance test and descriptive statistics. The technical efficiency rate obtained was 51%. Inferential analysis showed that parameters such as the age of the rice producer, household size, the amount of agricultural credit obtained, and the use of inputs impact the technical efficiency of rice production. In addition, most rice producers suffer from limited access to agricultural credit and adequate agricultural equipment, while their production is subject to climatic hazards. Agricultural development policies related to the determinants of the technical efficiency of rice production should be formulated in order to improve the efficiency of the producers in Benin Republic.

This research aims to assess the energy input and output involved in corn production in the Elazig province of Turkey in different agricultural systems. This study is interested in energy resource allocation to analyze maize production systems since the value of production inputs and outputs is affected by economic crises as well as the country's politico-economic status. The amounts of energy used for production are still very challenging to change. The typical energy usage of the farms examined in this study is 3359,82 MJda−1, 3715,74 MJda−1, 5366,13 MJda−1 and 6456,24 MJda−1 according to the distance between the water sources and the farms. Of the total mean of energy, 31.06% is direct, 12, 26% is indirect, 14,38% in renewable energy and 42,30% in non-renewable energy. A kilogram of typical maize is thought to require 3,93 MJ of energy in total to produce. Energy used for irrigation makes up most of the input (37.20%), followed by sowing (22.57%) and fertilizer (16.65%). As a result of the benefit-cost ratio analysis is 0.29, the cost of corn production per decare is found to be $112.05/da in the area, with variable costs accounting for 83.17% of the total. The analysis of data reveals that the transformation of 100 kg of corn generates an energy expenditure of 2219.58 MJ and more than 50% of energy expenditure comes from the use of machines.

Bu çalışmada akıllı malzemelerinden biri olan elektroaktif polimerlerin çeşitleri, yapıları, çalışma mekanizmaları ve kullanım alanları tanıtılmıştır. Akıllı malzemelere duyulan ihtiyaç geleneksel aktüatörlerden farkı ortaya konarak açıklanmıştır. Elektroaktif polimerlerin tarihsel gelişimi, ilk ticari ürünü, çalışma mekanizması, uygulama alanları ve çeşitleri hakkında ayrıntılı bilgi verilmiştir. Elektronik ve iyonik elektroaktif polimer çeşitleri ayrıntılı bir şekilde ele alınarak okuyucuya malzemeleri kolayca karşılaştırabilme imkanı tanınmıştır. Bu derleme ile Türkçe literatüre elektroaktif polimerler ile ilgili temel bir kaynak kazandırılması hedeflenmiştir.

Okul öğrencilere sadece bilgi aktarılan bir ortam değil, hayata hazırlık niteliğinde bilgi, beceri ve alışkanlıkların kazandırıldığı bir öğrenme ortamı olarak düşünülebilir. Dolayısıyla öğrencilerin okulda veya eğitim sürecinde yaşadıkları deneyimler onların hayatı ve okulu nasıl algıladıklarını da etkileyebilir. 2020/2021 eğitim-öğretim yılında ilkokul 1. sınıfa başlayan öğrenciler tüm eğitim yılına pandemi sürecinde ve daha önce deneyimlenmemiş birçok eğitim uygulamasının hayata geçirildiği bir süreçte devam etmişlerdir. Bu sürecin çoğunda uzaktan eğitim zaman zaman da yüz yüze eğitim aldıkları düşünüldüğünde bu durumun okul algılarını da etkileyebileceği düşünülerek bu araştırma gerçekleştirilmiştir. Bu araştırmada amaç 2020/2021 eğitim-öğretim yılında ilkokul 1. sınıfa başlamış ve tüm sene pandemi sürecinde eğitimine devam eden öğrencilerin ‘okul’ algılarını metaforlar aracılığıyla belirlemektir. Bu çalışmanın önemi ve diğer çalışmalardan ayrılan yönü ise uzaktan eğitim sürecinin gerçekleştirildiği bir yılın sonunda yapılmış olmasıdır. Araştırmanın çalışma grubunu Konya merkez ilçeleri Selçuklu ve Meram’da yer alan biri özel ikisi devlet okulu olmak üzere üç ayrı ilkokulda öğrenim gören 110 birinci sınıf öğrencisi oluşturmaktadır. Çalışmada nitel araştırma veri toplama tekniklerinden metaforlar kullanılmıştır. Araştırmanın çalışma grubunun “okul” kavramına ilişkin algıları “Okul…benzer, çünkü…” ifadesini tamamlamaları ile elde edilmiştir. Verilerin analizi içerik analizi tekniği kullanılarak gerçekleştirilmiştir. Araştırmada birinci sınıf öğrencilerinin “okul”u çoğunlukla “ev”e benzettikleri sonucuna ulaşılmıştır. Eğitim yılının çoğunu evinde ve uzaktan eğitimle geçiren öğrencilerin verdikleri cevapların bu yönde olmasının önemli bir bulgu olduğu ifade edilebilir. Araştırmanın sonunda ise bu alanda yapılacak diğer araştırmaların öğrencilerin ‘okul’ algılarını anlamaya yardımcı olacağı düşünülmektedir.

Abstract Background Systolic compression of a coronary artery by overlying myocardial tissue is termed myocardial bridging. Myocardial bridging usually has a benign prognosis, but some cases resulting in myocardial ischemia, infarction and sudden cardiac death have been reported. We are reporting a case of myocardial bridging which was complicated with acute myocardial infarction associated with inappropriate blood donation. Case presentation A 33 year-old-man was admitted to our emergency with acute anteroseptal myocardial infarction after a blood donation. The electrocardiography showed sinus rhythm and was consistent with an acute anteroseptal myocardial infarction. We decided to perform primary percutanous intervention (PCI). Myocardial bridging was observed in the mid segment of the left anterior descending coronary artery on coronary angiogram. PCI was canceled and medical follow up was decided. Blood transfusion was made because he had a deep anemia. A normal hemaglobin level and clinical reperfusion was achieved after ten hours by blood transfusion. At the one year follow up visit, our patient was healthy and had no cardiac complaints. Conclusions Myocardial bridging may cause acute myocardial infarction in various clinical conditions. Although the condition in this case caused profound anemia related acute myocardial infarction, its treatment and management was unusual.

Discovering effective therapies is difficult for neurological and developmental disorders in that disease progression is often associated with a complex and interactive mechanism. Over the past few decades, few drugs have been identified for treating Alzheimer’s disease (AD), especially for impacting the causes of cell death in AD. Although drug repurposing is gaining more success in developing therapeutic efficacy for complex diseases such as common cancer, the complications behind AD require further study. Here, we developed a novel prediction framework based on deep learning to identify potential repurposed drug therapies for AD, and more importantly, our framework is broadly applicable and may generalize to identifying potential drug combinations in other diseases. Our prediction framework is as follows: we first built a drug-target pair (DTP) network based on multiple drug features and target features, as well as the associations between DTP nodes where drug-target pairs are the DTP nodes and the associations between DTP nodes are represented as the edges in the AD disease network; furthermore, we incorporated the drug-target feature from the DTP network and the relationship information between drug-drug, target-target, drug-target within and outside of drug-target pairs, representing each drug-combination as a quartet to generate corresponding integrated features; finally, we developed an AI-based Drug discovery Network (AI-DrugNet), which exhibits robust predictive performance. The implementation of our network model help identify potential repurposed and combination drug options that may serve to treat AD and other diseases.

İnanç ahlakı, dini inançlar da dahil olmak üzere hangi inançları benimsemenin meşru olduğuna dair bir soruşturmayı içerir. Böyle bir soruşturmada belirlenen ölçüt her ne olursa, bu ölçütü sağlamayan bir inancı benimsemek doğru görülmez ve etik ihlali olarak kabul edilir. Şüphesiz bu konuda akla gelen ilk isimlerden biri İngiliz matematikçi W. K. Clifford’dır (ö. 1879). Clifford “İnanç Ahlakı” adını verdiği meşhur makalesinde “yeterli delili” ölçüt olarak belirler. Buna göre yeterli delil şartını sağlayan inançlara inanma hakkı varken, bu şartı sağlamayan inançları benimsemek “her zaman, her yerde ve herkes için yanlıştır”. Clifford’ın delil merkezli bu argümanı, teizm aleyhine katı delilci itirazın en sık başvurduğu referanslardan biri haline gelir. Bu itirazda teist, Tanrı varlığı lehine yeterli delili olmadığı halde inancını askıya almak yerine inanmayı tercih ederek yanlış yapmakla veya inanç ahlakının gereklerini yerine getirmemekle suçlanır. Diğer taraftan zamanla bu argümanın inançların çeşitliliği karşısında işlevsel olmadığı da ortaya çıkar. Bu bağlamda inanç ahlakının ne olacağına ilişkin farklı öneriler sunulur. Bunlardan biri pragmatizmin kurucu isimleri arasında yer alan Amerikalı filozof William James’e (ö. 1810) aittir. James “İnanma İradesi” başlıklı çalışmasında Clifford’ı karşısına alarak inançlar arasında nitelik bakımından bir ayrım yapar. James’e göre, Clifford bütün inançlar için delil şartını aramakla hatalıdır. Zira başta dini inançlar olmak üzere insanın tutkusal doğasıyla ilgili inançların zaten delillendirilmesi olanaklı değildir. James bu ayrımın ardından dini inançlar için yeni bir ölçüt önerir: bir dini inanç canlı-ölü, zorunlu-kaçınılabilir, önemli ve önemsiz olabilir. Eğer dini inanç bu nitelik çiftlerinden canlı, zorunlu ve önemli niteliklerine sahipse bu inancı askıya almak yerine ona inanma cesaretini göstermek gerekir. Diğer bir deyişle söz konusu ölçütleri sağlayan bir dini inancı benimsemek, her zaman, her yerde ve herkes için meşrudur. Clifford’ın katı tavrı karşısında James’in önerisi genellikle güçlü bir karşı meydan okuma veya dini inançların bir savunusu olarak değerli bulunur. Ancak bunun yanında bu argümanın da eleştiriye açık yönleri vardır. Bunlardan biri inanma iradesi argümanının çelişen dini inançları aynı anda geçerli sayması veya başka bir deyişle dini çeşitlilik meselesiyle karşı karşıya kalmasıdır. Örneğin J. Hick’e göre, her ne kadar James istemese de bu argüman kaçınılmaz olarak dini çoğulculukla sonuçlanır. S. F. Aikin ise Hick’in aksine inanma iradesinin dini çoğulculukla sonuçlanmadığını iddia eder. Argümanın pragmatizmle ilişkisine dikkat çeken Aikin’e göre James dini inançları belirsizleştirip, onları hakikatle ilgili birer iddia olmaktan çıkarmıştır. Dolayısıyla ortada klasik anlamda bir çelişki yoktur. Peki itirazlardan hangisi geçerlidir? İnanma iradesi argümanı aynı anda birden fazla dini inancı meşrulaştırarak dini çoğulculukla mı sonuçlanmakta yoksa dini inançları değersizleştirerek bütünüyle pragmatik bir öneride mi bulunmaktadır? İnanma iradesine göre hangi dine inanmaya hakkım vardır? Bu makalenin amacı bahsi geçen soruya bir cevap vermektir. Makalede mevcut değerlendirmelerden farklı olarak argümanın genelde yapıldığı gibi pragmatizmle değil James’in bilgi teorisi olan radikal deneyimcilikle yakından ilişkili olduğu ileri sürülerek bu bağlamda yeniden ele alınacaktır. Bu amaçla Clifford ve James’in argümanları arasındaki ilişkinin gösterilmesinin ardından, inanma iradesi, radikal deneyimcilikle ilişkilendirilecek ve bu bağlamda James’in dini inançlarla ilgili iki hamlesi olduğu iddia edilecektir: Dini inançları olgusal inançlardan bağımsızlaştırmak; monist bir Tanrı tasavvurunu kabul edip teizmden ayrılarak dini duygusal bir tecrübe olan mistik tecrübeye dayandırmak. Detayların belirginleşmesiyle James’in felsefi dizgesinde geleneksel dinleri dışarıda bırakan doğal bir din savunusu yaptığı ve insanlaştırılmış bir dinin inançlarını savunduğu belirginleşecektir. James duyguya dayalı bireysel bir din tanımıyla bir yandan dini duygunun ortaklığını sağlamaktayken diğer yandan dini olgular alanından bağımsızlaştırmaktadır. Dolayısıyla bu çalışmayla inanma iradesi argümanının geleneksel dinlere inanmayı meşrulaştırma amacında olmadığı gibi çeşitliliğin de asli bir sorun olmadığı, ayrıca James’in düşüncelerine bütünlüklü bakıldığında kendi sistemi içerisinde tutarlı olduğu ortaya çıkacaktır. Makalenin sonuç kısmında inanç ahlakıyla ilgili meselede dini inançların epistemolojik değerine ilişkin tartışmalara dönülmediği sürece, doğal olmayan yani vahye dayalı müşahhas bir Tanrı’ya ve geleneksel dini inançlara inanmayı meşrulaştırma çabalarının indirgemelerle sonuçlandığı vurgulanacaktır.

Background and Objectives: In this present study, we investigated the impact of mechanosensitive microRNAs (mechano-miRs) on the collateral development in 126 chronic total occlusion (CTO) patients, selected from 810 undergoing angiography. Materials and Methods: We quantified the collateral blood supply using the collateral flow index (CFI) and assessed the transcoronary mechano-miR gradients. Results: The patients with favorable collaterals had higher CFI values (0.45 ± 0.02) than those with poor collaterals (0.38 ± 0.03, p < 0.001). Significant differences in transcoronary gradients were found for miR-10a, miR-19a, miR-21, miR-23b, miR-26a, miR-92a, miR-126, miR-130a, miR-663, and let7d (p < 0.05). miR-26a and miR-21 showed strong positive correlations with the CFI (r = 0.715 and r = 0.663, respectively), while let7d and miR-663 were negatively correlated (r = −0.684 and r = −0.604, respectively). The correlations between cytokine gradients and mechano-miR gradients were also significant, including Transforming Growth Factor Beta with miR-126 (r = 0.673, p < 0.001) and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor with miR-10a (r = 0.602, p = 0.002). A regression analysis highlighted the hemoglobin level, smoking, beta-blocker use, miR-26a, and miR-663 as significant CFI determinants, indicating their roles in modulating the collateral vessel development. Conclusions: These findings suggest mechanosensitive microRNAs as predictive biomarkers for collateral circulation, offering new therapeutic perspectives for CTO patients.