Search

Whether formed in the atmosphere or laboratory, ozone has a highly unusual isotopic composition that deviates from predictions of traditional chemical kinetics models and from usual patterns of ‘mass-dependent’ fractionation. Previous research indicates that the anomalous mass-independent isotopic composition of ozone originates in the energy-transfer mechanism for ozone formation (O + O2 + M → O3* + M → O3 + M#), due to a unique, and not fully understood, difference in the behavior of isotopically symmetric versus asymmetric metastable ozone (O3*).In this dissertation, I present photochemistry experiments that provide insight into the origin of the mass-independent isotopic composition of ozone (called the 17O anomaly). In these experiments, ozone was formed in different pressures of various bath gases, M, each with unique energy transfer properties. The product ozone was isolated, and its isotopic composition measured by isotope ratio mass spectrometry. The results of these experiments show that there is an exponential dependence on the 17O anomaly on , the average energy transferred per collision of O3* with M, and indicate that the unusual symmetric/asymmetric differences in ozone are most prominent at energies of O3* near the dissociation threshold.These experimental findings led me to design a modified master equation model that produces results in line with experimental bath gas dependent, pressure dependent, and temperature dependent measurements of the isotopic composition of ozone. This model demonstrates that all three of the aforementioned dependencies may be explained by mass-independent isotope effects in ozone that exist at energies up to merely ~100 cm-1 above the dissociation threshold. The model thus gives a plausible explanation for an array of previously unexplained experimental trends in the 17O anomaly in ozone. Moreover, the creation of this model allows relative isotope-specific rate coefficients in ozone to be calculated under the wide range of relevant atmospheric conditions. These kinetic values produced by the model can aid in the interpretation of the 17O anomaly in the many substances in the atmosphere and in and other parts of the Earth system that have acquired a 17O anomaly through reaction or isotope exchange with ozone.Overall, the results of the experiments and modeling presented in this dissertation provide key insights into the origin of the 17O anomaly in ozone, as well as findings relevant for applications of the unique ozone isotope anomaly to atmospheric and Earth science studies.

Purpose: Vestigial like family member 3(VGLL3) and its sub-target genes have been determined to have significant transcriptomic overlap many autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. In this study, we investigated the role of VGLL3 rs13074432 polymorphism and its sub-target genes in the etiology of acute appendicitis (AA). Methods: 250 patients aged 0-18 years, who underwent appendectomy with the diagnosis of AA (patient group; blood and appendix tissue samples), and 200 healthy children (control group; only blood samples) without appendectomy were included in the prospective case-control study. ELISA method was used for protein level detection of VGLL3 and sub-target genes expression change in obtained tissue samples, and Real-Time Quantitative Reverse Transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used for mRNA level detection. Genotyping analyses were performed on DNA samples isolated from blood using TaqMan SNP genotyping test. Results: The frequency of TT variant genotype (p=0.000) and T allele (p=0.002) decreased statistically in the patient group compared to the control. No significant correlation was observed between the expression of VGLL3 in the appendiceal tissue and the clinical and demographic data of the patient (p>0.05). Conclusion: This study revealed that the VGLL3 gene and its sub-target genes are associated with the etiology of AA.

Delay in diagnosis and treatment of esophageal foreign bodies (FBs) increases morbidity and mortality. Anamnesis, radiological imaging and endoscopy are important in this diagnosis. A nine-month-old male patient was admitted to the hospital an hour after swallowing a coin. Pulmonary radiographic images detected the FB in the 2nd narrowing of the oesophagus and the FB was removed using a foley catheter. Six hours after removal of the FB, the patient was re-admitted by the emergency service upon development of puffiness in the neck and chest area. Physical examination revealed subcutaneous crepitation on the anterior wall of the thorax. Esophagography revealed that the contrast agent leaked from the right lateral of the oesophagus into the chest cavity. The nasogastric tube was inserted, the oral nutrition was stopped and antibiotherapy was started. Primary oesophagus repair was performed via thoracotomy on the 7th day of conservative follow-up upon the deterioration of the general condition and continuing leakage of contrast agent as observed in the fluoroscopy. In conclusion, The use of foley catheter in the removal of esophageal FBs can lead to serious complications.

The purpose of this study was to investigate how the use of the activity-based LEGO MoretoMath manipulative (concrete and virtual materials) affects students’ problem solving, fluency, understanding and reasoning skills during math lessons. A case study was conducted as an after-school project with seven second grade students were included in the study group (four boys and three girls). Data collection tools included interview protocols, observation forms, and student worksheets. Data were collected from students and their parents to ensure validity in the study. Finally, data were analyzed descriptively. Findings revealed that students performance was above 85%. Solving questions with both software and physical materials made the learning process easy. Students socialized, sharing opinions and solutions. Parents reported that using this educational tool enhanced students’ creativity while learning abstract concepts and provided opportunities for regular communication and cooperative group work in class. As a result, students learned alternative ways to solve problems, enhancing their problem solving skills and math fluency. Constructing physical models with LEGO materials and MathBuilder software also made it easier for them to understand abstract concepts. The suggestions presented through this study are important and pave the way to using both hands-on materials and 3D software for abstract concepts teaching in the classroom.

Device-to-device (D2D) cache placement and content delivery is a recent technology that exploits idle memory capacity of mobile devices and promises to fulfill users' content needs with very low delay and without using the scarce cellular network capacity. Recent literature on D2D caching mostly concentrated on optimal cache placement and mostly disregarded the required discovery mechanisms and the accompanying overhead. In this work we propose a clustering-based procedure that is used to cache content at the helper nodes along with advertisement and discovery procedures for content delivery. We implement a Long Term Evolution (LTE)-based simulation setup to evaluate the proposed schemes. Numerical results reveal that the clustering-based user and content discovery significantly improves cellular offloading and reduces the discovery overhead with a minimal sacrifice from delay.

Background The correct diagnosis rate in acute appendicitis (AA) is between 72 and 94% despite advanced laboratory and radiologic examinations. This study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of laboratory parameters in the diagnosis of children with appendicitis. Materials and methods Patients who underwent appendectomy were divided as AA (subdivided into two groups as perforated and non-perforated) and without appendicitis. White blood cell (WBC), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), red cell distribution (RDW), mean platelet volume (MPV), C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin levels and Alvarado score were recorded. Results WBC, NLR and CRP levels were higher in patients with AA (p Conclusions CRP is the most effective bioindicator in the diagnosis of AA, the detection of perforated cases. It was revealed that NLR is effective in the diagnosis of AA, procalcitonin and RDW values are effective in the separation of perforated cases.

Introduction:The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of tetracycline (TC), clarithromycin (CM) and bleomycin (BLM) on the cyst diameter and ovarian tissues in the treatment of simple ovarian cysts.Methods:We employed Wistar albino female rats (n=38) to create ovarian cysts, and did not intervene in any form in the control group (GC) (n=6). In total, 32 female rats underwent unilateral salpingectomy for the creation of cysts. Macroscopic cysts were manifested in 25 (78%) rats who underwent salpingectomy. We divided the rats (n=25) with cysts into four groups. Salpingectomy with saline was performed in G1, salpingectomy with tetracycline (TC) was performed in G2, and salpingectomy with Clarithromycin (CM) was performed in G3. Additionally, salpingectomy with BLM was exploited in G4.Results:There was a significant decrease in the diameter of the cyst in G2 as compared to G1, but there was no significant difference among the other groups. There was no significant change in total ovarian reserve in the groups (p=0.066). There was a statistically significant increase in fibrosis in G1 and G3 groups as compared to GC (p

This study investigated changes in the concentrations of serum and urine neutrophil gelatinase lipocalin (NGAL), kidney injury molecule 1 (KIM-1), interleukin 18 (IL-18), and cystatin-C (Cys-C) induced by parenchymal and tubular damage following blunt kidney trauma, as well as their potential utility as biomarkers in the detection and follow-up of patients with suspected blunt renal trauma. Three-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 18) were divided into three groups (n = 6 in each): group 1: control group (no intervention); group 2: sham group (explorative surgery and exposure of the left kidneys); and group 3: trauma group (explorative surgery and induction of blunt renal trauma of the left kidneys). Serum and urine samples were collected before and 12-24, 36-48, and 60-72 hours later for NGAL, KIM-1, IL-18, and Cys-C measurements. In the trauma group, there was a statistically significant increase in post-operative NGAL, KIM-1, and IL-18 values after 12-24 h and 36-48 h, as compared with pre-operative values. There was also a statistically significant increase in post-operative serum and urine Cys-C values after 60-72 h, as compared with pre-operative values. NGAL, KIM-1, and IL-18 may represent novel non-invasive descriptive candidate biomarkers of early-stage tubular damage in children with renal trauma.

Delay in diagnosis and treatment of esophageal foreign bodies (FBs) increases morbidity and mortality. Anamnesis, radiological imaging and endoscopy are important in this diagnosis.A nine-month-old male patient was admitted to the hospital an hour after swallowing a coin. Pulmonary radiographic images detected the FB in the 2nd narrowing of the oesophagus and the FB was removed using a foley catheter. Six hours after removal of the FB, the patient was re-admitted by the emergency service upon development of puffiness in the neck and chest area. Physical examination revealed subcutaneous crepitation on the anterior wall of the thorax. Esophagography revealed that the contrast agent leaked from the right lateral of the oesophagus into the chest cavity. The nasogastric tube was inserted, the oral nutrition was stopped and antibiotherapy was started. Primary oesophagus repair was performed via thoracotomy on the 7th day of conservative follow-up upon the deterioration of the general condition and continuing leakage of contrast agent as observed in the fluoroscopy.In conclusion, The use of foley catheter in the removal of esophageal FBs can lead to serious complications., Özofagus yabancı cisimlerinde (YC) tanı ve tedavinin gecikmesi morbidite ve mortaliteyi artırır. Tanıda anamnez, radyolojik görüntüleme ve endoskopi önemlidir.Dokuz aylık erkek hasta bir saat önce madeni para yutma şikayetiyle hastaneye başvurmuş. Akciğer grafisinde özofagus 2. darlıkta görülen YC foley sonda ile çıkarılmış. YC’nin çıkarılmasından 6 saat sonra boyun ve göğüs kısmında şişlik gelişmesi üzerine acil servise başvurdu. Fizik muayenede toraks ön duvarında cilt altı krepitasyon mevcuttu. Özofagografide kontrast maddenin özofagus sağ lateralden göğüs boşluğuna kaçtığı görüldü. Skopi eşliğinde nazogastrik sonda takıldı, orali kapatıldı ve antibiyoterapi başlandı. Konservatif takibin 7. gününde genel durumunun bozulması ve floroskopide kontrast madde kaçağının devam etmesi üzerine torakotomi ile özefagus primer onarımı yapıldı.Sonuç olarak, Özofagus YC’lerinin çıkarılmasında foley sonda kullanımı ciddi komplikasyona yol açabilir.