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The Papanicolaou (Pap) smear test is standard screening test that detects cervical lesions and cancers. In this multicentric study, we performed a retrospective analysis of cytologic results associated with atypical glandular cells-not otherwise specified (AGC-NOS).We retrospectively reviewed Pap smear tests resulted as "atypical glandular cells-not otherwise specified". A total of 254 women who underwent colposcopy due to a Pap smear result of AGC-NOS were included the study between 2003 and 2021. The ages, Pap smear results, HPV results if any, colposcopic biopsy results, endocervical and endometrial pathology results and management of these patients were analayzed.Two hundred fifty-four patients with AGC-NOS Pap smear result were included in the study. A total of 70 (27.6%) patients had cervical and endometrial premalignant or malignant lesions. Malignancy was observed in 17 (6.7%) patients (endometrium; n: 11 (4.3%) and cervix; n: 6 (2.4%)). Isolated premalign or malign lesions of cervix and endometrium were detected in 57 (22.4%) and 12 (4.7%) patients, respectively.Patients diagnosed with AGC-NOS should undergo a careful evaluation with all its clinicopathological features. Because the cancer of the cervix and endometrium is not rare in patients diagnosed with AGC-NOS, colposcopic examination with endocervical sampling should be a priority based on a cervicovaginal smear. Endometrial sampling is also required according to the patient's clinic, age and examination characteristics.

Objectives This study was aimed to investigate the diagnostic values of serum levels of asprosin and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and to assess the role of these biomarkers on the development and progression of the condition. Methods This study was carried out from April 2020 to February 2021 in the department of ophthalmology of a tertiary hospital in Turkey. Thirty patients diagnosed with ROP and 30 healthy newborns were included the study. Serum NGAL and asprosin levels were determined via ELISA. Results The median serum NGAL levels were found to be similar between the ROP group and the control group (p=0.595). Median asprosin levels were significantly higher in patients diagnosed with ROP [46.58 (12.70–142.28) ng/mL] compared to healthy subjects [13.05 (10.92–17.73) ng/mL] (p=0.001). The optimal cut-off value of asprosin by ROC analysis was 30 ng/mL (AUC: 0.754, p=0.001) for diagnosing ROP. Serum asprosin levels were positively correlated with serum ALP levels and inversely correlated with gestational week, uric acid and AST values (all, p Conclusions Our results demonstrated that asprosin, but not NGAL, could be a biomarker for the diagnosis of ROP.

The effects of n-TiO2 additions at different amounts by mass (0.0%, 0.3%, 0.6%, 0.9%, 1.2% and 1.5%) on rheological properties (plastic viscosity and yield stress) of cement-based grouts incorporated with fly ash as mineral additive at different constitutes (0%-for control purpose, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25% and 30%) were investigated by analysis of experiments in this study. To prepare all samples, w/b ratio was defined as 1.0. To prevent sedimentation of TiO2 nanoparticles in free water and to supply uniform distribution of TiO2 nanoparticles in water with help of removing of these nanoparticles from each other, Ultrasonication method was applied by using a Horn type Ultrasonic Homogenizer in this experimental study. All experimental viscosity values of the cement-based grout samples were also obtained by using Coaxial Rotating Cylinder Rheometer test machine. Modified Bingham analytical model was used to investigate on this study for reference grout samples because of it shows dilatant (shear-thickening) flow behavior. Test results show that plastic viscosity values of the grout samples obtained by addition of FA remarkably decrease with rising amount of n-TiO2. Yield stress of fresh grout mixtures increases with respect to increase amount of FA content in all grout mixtures with different proportions of n-TiO2. the usage of FA as a mineral additive in cement-based grouts has improved the yield stress value of the samples. Since n-TiO2 has such a low specific surface area, the water requirement of the grout matrix tends to increase. Therefore, this situation causes increasing of cohesion. The developed ANNs model has been able to predict the plastic viscosity and yield stress of cement-based grouts containing TiO2 nanoparticle doped fly ash with very low error rates and high accuracy

As a master regulator of neurogenesis, the orphan nuclear receptor tailless homologue (TLX, NR2E1) maintains neuronal stem cell homeostasis by acting as a transcriptional repressor of tumor suppressor genes. It is hence considered as an appealing target for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, but a lack of potent TLX modulators as tools to probe pharmacological TLX control hinders further validation of its promising potential. Here, we report the development of a potent TLX agonist based on fragment screening, pharmacophore modeling, and fragment fusion. Pharmacophore similarity of a fragment screening hit and the TLX ligand ccrp2 provided a rational basis for fragment linkage, which resulted in several TLX activator scaffolds. Among them, the fused compound 10 evolved as a valuable TLX agonist tool with submicromolar potency and high selectivity over related nuclear receptors, rendering it suitable for functional studies on TLX.

Bu çalışmada, Parinello-Rahman (PR) Moleküler Dinamik (MD) benzetim (simülasyon) yöntemi kullanılarak CuAu ve Cu3Au düzenli intermetalik ikili alaşım sistemleri modellendi. Atomlar arası etkileşimleri hesaplamak için potansiyel fonksiyonu olarak Sutton-Chen Gömülmüş Atom Metodu (GAM) kullanıldı. Potansiyel enerji fonksiyonunun ve Honeycutt-Andersen (HA) metodu ile elde edilen bağlı çiftlerin ısıtma sürecinde sıcaklıkla değişimleri incelendi. Ayrıca, model sistemlerin 300K sıcaklıkta ve sıvı fazdaki yapısal özellikleri Radyal Dağılım Fonksiyonu (RDF) ile analiz edildi. Yapılan analiz yöntemleri sonucunda, model sistemlerin erime sıcaklıkları, örgü parametreleri ve potansiyel enerji değerleri gibi bazı fiziksel parametreleri elde edildi. Sonuç olarak benzetim yöntemi ile elde edilen sonuçların deneysel veriler ile uyumlu olduğu tespit edildi.

A large proportion of Turkey's population live in high-risk earthquake zone. During the years when the buildings were built, apporximately 2/3 of the existing buildings in the earthquake zone need to be strengthened, due to the lack of engineering services, poor quality materials and workmanship errors. In order to strengthen an existing masonry wall against horizontal loads and resist horizontal loads partially or fully with the existing wall, connectors are needed for the steel or reinforced concrete shear wall attachments on one or both surfaces of the wall. Since the rigidities of the existing wall and attached reinforcement elements are different against horizontal earthquake forces, these connectors must have sufficient flexibility, spacing, diameter and depth against the shear and pull-out forces that will occur between these two blocks. In this study, anchoring steel bars are preferred as connectors for being flexible and easily attainable. In order to determine the number of the connectors to be anchored to a masonry wall surface, determination of the shear performances depending on the diameter and the depth of the connectors is of great importance. Within the scope of this study, a new practical shear test plate is designed to determine the shear performance of reinforcement anchors with different diameters anchored on an existing building walls. 21 shear tests were performed on three different existing masonry buildings using the specially designed shear test plate. Although the effect of diameter of the steel rods on the shear capacity of the rods showed negligible effect, anchorage depth of the rods showed a significant effect as the most effective parameter. In addition, a parabolic equation is obtained that gives shear performance of the anchorage depending on its diameter and depth., Türkiye nüfusunun büyük bir kesimi deprem riski yüksek bölgelerde yaşamaktadır. Bu bölgelerde bulunan binaların, yapıldıkları yıllardaki mühendislik hizmetlerindeki eksiklik, kalitesiz malzeme kullanımı ve işçilik hatalar nedeniyle mevcut binaların yaklaşık 2/3’ünün güçlendirilmesi gerektirmektedir. Mevcut bir yığma duvarı yatay yüklere karşı güçlendirmek için duvarın bir ya da iki yüzeyine eklenecek çelik veya betonarme levhaların mevcut duvarla kısmi veya tam bir bağla birlikte hareket edebilmesi için konektörlere ihtiyaç vardır. Mevcut duvarın ve eklenecek güçlendirme elemanının yatay deprem kuvvetlerine karşı rijitlikleri farklı olacağından, aralarında oluşacak kesme ve çekme kuvvetlerine karşı, bu konektörlerin yeterli esneklik, aralık, çap ve derinlikte olması gerekmektedir. Bu çalışmada konektör olarak, esnek ve kolay temin edilebilir olması bakımından betonarme çelik çubuk parçaları tercih edilmiştir. Yığma duvar yüzeyine ankre edilecek bu konektörlerin sayılarını belirleyebilmek için çap ve derinliklerine bağlı kesme performanslarının belirlenmesi büyük önem arz etmektedir. Bu çalışma kapsamında, mevcut bir binanın duvarlarına ankrajlanan farklı çaplarda ve derinliklerde güçlendirme çelik çubuklarının kesme performanslarını belirleyebilmek için özel tasarlanmış, pratik ve kullanışlı çelik levhalı deney düzeneği kullanılmış ve 3 farklı binada toplam 21 adet kesme deneyi yapılmıştır. Ankraj kesme performansı üzerinde ankraj derinliğinin donatı çapına oranla çok fazla etkili olduğu görülmüştür. Ayrıca ankraj çubuğunun çapına ve derinliğine bağlı olarak kesme kuvvetini veren parabolik bir denklem elde edilmiştir.

Antenatal auto-amputation of the ovary is an extremely rare event, and its diagnosis is difficult. We aimed to retrospectively review the cases with antenatal auto-amputation, where the diagnosis was made based on detection of free-floating cyst during surgery.Patients diagnosed with auto-amputated ovary during the surgery between 2012 and 2021 were included in the study. The data were reviewed retrospectively. Clinical, radiological, surgical, and histopathological findings were recorded.Eight patients underwent surgery for an abdominal cystic mass. The age range of patients who were operated was from 21 days to 9 months. None of the patients had symptoms, except one patient who had a large cyst and was vomiting. Prenatal ultrasound examination indicated an intra-abdominal cyst in all patients, but auto-amputated ovary diagnosis was not made. Differential postnatal diagnoses included an ovarian cyst, ovarian teratoma, tuba-ovarian torsion, mesenteric lymphatic malformation, and intestinal duplication cyst. Only one patient had an auto-amputated ovary suspicion in computed tomography. Laparoscopic exploration (n: 7) or laparotomy (n: 1) was performed. Histopathologic examination was necrosis and calcification (n: 6), necrosis (n: 1), and serous cystadenoma and necrosis (n: 1).We suggest that laparoscopy should be used for diagnosis and treatment of antenatal intra-abdominal cysts that persist postnatally because of diagnostic dilemmas. We recommend in patients diagnosed with auto-amputated ovary that the other ovary should be carefully monitored and followed up in terms of ovarian cyst, due to the possible risk of torsion.

To evaluate levels of plasma cerebellin, cortisol, adrenaline and noradrenaline in patients with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC).This prospective study included 30 patients diagnosed with acute CSC (Group 1) and a control group of 30 age-matched, healthy subjects without CSC (Group 2). Levels of plasma cerebellin, cortisol, adrenaline and noradrenaline were examined in blood samples taken after 8-12hours of fasting. A value of p0.05 was considered statistically significant in the comparative analyses.The mean plasma cerebellin level was found to be 232.56±113.28 pg/ml in Group 1 and 174.07±82.04 pg/ml in Group 2 (p=0.02). Mean plasma cortisol was 13.19±3.87μg/ml in Group 1 and 9.55±2.92μg/ml in Group 2 (p0.01). Mean plasma adrenaline was 60.62±26.67 pg/ml in Group 1 and 46.17±19.20 pg/ml in Group 2 (p=0.03). Mean plasma noradrenaline was 206.66±73.90 pg/ml in Group 1 and 149.96±51.36 pg/ml in Group 2 (p0.01).It can be concluded that increased cerebellin may have a role in the etiology of CSC by increasing catecholamine expression from the adrenal medulla and indirectly by increasing cortisol levels via a paracrine effect from the adrenal cortex.

This study was undertaken to investigate some specific problems that limit a safe design and construction of structures on problematic soils. An experimental study was carried out to examine the influence of loading rate and moisture content on shear strength of organic soil. Influece of moisture content on interface friction between organic soil and structural materials was also attempted. A commonly used soil in Iraq was prepared at varying moisture contents of 39%, 57% and 75%. The experimental results showed that the increase in water content will decrease the shear stress and the internal friction angle. An increase of the shearing rate was found to decrease the shear stress and internal friction angle for all percetanges of water contents. Further, direct shear tests were carried out to detect the interface shear stress behavior between organic soil and structural materials. The results revealed that the increase in water content was shown to have significant negetavie effects on the interface internal friction and angle shear strength.

Peptide phoenixin (PNX), endocan (EDC), and spexin (SPX) are associated with diabetes. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the levels of PNX, EDC and SPX in the blood and aqueous humor (AH) of patient with type 2 diabetes with and without DRP and cataract. 30 type 2 diabetes patients with cataract (DM + C), 30 DRP patient with cataract (DRP + C), 30 non-diabetic patient with only cataract and 30 control participants were enrolled into this study. PNX, EDC, and SPX were measured in blood and AH by ELISA. In patients with DRP + C, the levels of PNX and EDC were significantly higher in both AH and blood samples compared with the group of patients without DRP + C (0.05). Also, in patients with DM + C, the levels of PNX and EDC were higher in both AH and blood samples compared with the group of patients without DM + C. However, in patients with DRP + C, the levels of SPX were significantly lower in both AH and blood samples compared with the group of patients without DRP + C (0.05). Also, in patients with DM + C, the levels of SPX were also lower in both AH and blood samples compared with the group of patients without DM + C. These findings suggest that increased PNX, EDC, and decreased SPX amounts in blood and AH of DM + C and DRP + C groups when compared with control and cataract groups show that they might have a role in the pathophysiology of DM + C, especially in the DRP + C.

In order to strengthen masonry building walls against horizontal earthquake loads, steel plates or in situ reinforced concrete layers need to be attached to one or both surfaces of the walls. Because the stiffness of the wall and the stiffness of the strengthening element will be different against earthquake loads, the elastic connectors are needed to be attached to the strengthening wall to comply with an existing wall. These connectors must have sufficient and well-known strength, flexibility, spacing, diameter, and depth to resist shear and pull-out forces that will occur between the wall and the strengthening element. And it is of great importance to determine the partially interacted pull-out and direct shear performances of the widely known flexible and commonly used steel rod connectors depending on the diameter and embedment depth in strengthening analysis. In this study, since the partially interacted pull-out test on chemically anchored steel rods has shown more realistic failure in comparison to the fully interacted pull-out test and both the partially interacted pull-out test and the shear test are quite difficult and time-consuming in comparison to the fully interacted pull-out test, the steel rods were anchored on an existing a five stories masonry building constructed using clay block bricks, mortar and plaster in Turkey and then three different types of tests were conducted on steel rods to determine the relation between the fully and partially interacted pull out performances and also between fully interacted pull out and shear performances. Very significant linear equations were obtained for the shear performance and partially interacted pull-out performance of the anchor rods in accordance with the fully interacted pull-out performance of the steel rod connectors for different embedment depth and hole.

The molecules human interleukin (IL-18), the soluble cluster of differentiation (sCD40), platelet factor 4 variant 1 (PF4V1), and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) are all markers of inflammation in biological systems and are linked to prognosis in several inflammatory diseases as well. Since there is no study in which the above-mentioned molecules are studied together in ocular Behçet's disease (OBD), the aim of this study is to reveal whether these molecules are activity markers in active (OABD) and inactive (OIBD) disease.30 OABD and 30 OIBD and 30 healthy individuals were included in the study. IL-18, sCD40, PF4V1, and NGAL molecules were studied in blood samples by the ELISA method.When OABD and OIBD were compared to healthy individuals, the levels of IL-18, sCD40, PF4V1, and NGAL molecules were found to be statistically significant. These values were even more significantly higher in patients with OABD.When ROC values of IL-18, sCD40, PF4V1, and NGAL are evaluated, it is clear that these four molecules can be used as biomarkers to aid activity and diagnosis in OBD.

Definitions of urban geological environments are usually required to provide information about an engineering basis for planners and design engineers to prepare a rational land use planning and developing urban areas. Therefore, the geological mapping investigation method can be a beneficial way of defining urban geological environments visually. In this study, the Engineering Geological Mapping Method (EGMM) was used to investigate and present the geotechnical and geological data obtained from Nigde city of Turkey. Around forty-five unpublished reports that were obtained from the construction work done around the study area were evaluated as detail. Then, the study area was divided into five different regions which were considered their geological characteristics. In each region, nine unpublished reports were selected and analyzed for interpreting the data and plotting the geotechnical and geological maps. The main indispensable parameters for geotechnical design engineers were drawn by using the data obtained from the different boreholes for Nigde city. These drawn maps by GIS technic: (1) groundwater table, (2) liquefaction zone, (3) plasticity index, (4) bearing capacity, (5) soil classification, and (6) SPT results. For preparing the maps, two types of interpolation methods were used (minimum curvature and Voronoi polygons methods). The Geographic Information System (GIS) was used to rearrange and control all this information and to prepare engineering geotechnical and geological maps. As a result, the Engineering Geological Mapping Method applied for this study is to show more crucial for preventing mistakes making in practical works during preparing urban extension planning for developing cities in the future.

Purpose Diabetic retinopathy (DRP) is the formation of edema and small vessels in the retina due to high blood glucose levels. Asprosin is a hormone that stimulates the release of glucose from the liver into the circulation. Considering the relationship between oxidative stress and DRP, our study aimed to determine the levels of the oxidative stress markers 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), as well as asprosin, in the blood and aqueous humor (Aq) of patients with and without DRP. Methods Thirty patients with single-eye DRP and cataract (DRP + C), 30 patients with diabetes mellitus and cataract without DRP (DM + C), and 30 healthy control (CON) participants were enrolled into this retrospective study. Except for healthy controls, Aq and blood samples were taken from these patients during their cataract operation. Asprosin, 4-HNE, and 8-OHdG concentrations were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Results In patients with DRP, the levels of asprosin, 4-HNE, and 8-OHdG were significantly higher in both Aq and blood samples compared with the group of patients without DRP. Conclusion These findings suggest that the measurement of asprosin, 4-HNE, and 8-OHdG levels may support clinicians in determining the risk of DRP development.

One of the causes of congenital adrenal insufficiency, a genetically heterogeneous disorder is a mutation in the CYP11A1 gene, which is responsible for the initiation of steriodogenesis by converting cholesterol to pregnenolone.

INTRODUCTION[|]The aim of this study was to histopathologically compare patients with and without diabetes mellitus who underwent pterygium excision.[¤]METHODS[|]In this retrospective case-control study, 60 patients with a history of pterygium excision were divided into 2 groups: those with DM and those without DM. Histopathological findings (squamous metaplasia, dysplasia, inflammation, fibrinoid changes, and vascularization) were compared.[¤]RESULTS[|]The mean age of the 60 patients (females, 54.5%) included in the study was 58.6+-12.8 years. The mean age was 53.7+-13.7 years in the patients with DM and 63.6+-9.6 years in the patients without DM. There were no significant differences in the excised pterygium tissues in terms of squamous metaplasia, dysplasia, fibrinoid changes, inflammation, or vascularization.[¤]DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION[|]There was no histopathological difference in the pterygium tissue in patients with DM.[¤]

This paper evaluates the unconfined compressive strength (UCS), stability (bleeding), modulus of elasticity and failure patterns of cement-based grout mixtures that were prepared by placing of rice...

Adsorption of thorium on styrene–divinylbenzene-based resin was investigated to obtain the optimum adsorption conditions by using the central composite design (CCD) method. This study was performed in 30 runs of experiments as a function of pH, thorium concentration, contact time and temperature. Adsorption performance of styrene–divinylbenzene-based resin was higher than 98%. The optimum adsorption of thorium using styrene–divinylbenzene-based resin can be successfully predicted statistically by the CCD method. In addition, sorption isotherm models such as Langmuir, Freundlich and Dubinin–Radushkevich were applied, and adsorption of Th(IV) was described most precisely by the Langmuir isotherm, which has the highest R 2 (0.99) value. Thermodynamic parameters showed that the adsorption is an exothermic and spontaneous physical process. The results of this study reveal that this type of synthetic resin can be used as an effective sorbent material for the removal of Th(IV) ions from weakly aqueous solutions in remediation and nuclear wastewater treatment.

Peat is found in many countries throughout the world where it can be generally seen in thick layers in limited areas. Peat is an extreme form of soft soil and is considered problematic due to the low shear strength and large compressibility. This project presents laboratory finding on the compressibility and shear strength characteristics of fibrous peat with sand column. The peat used in the study is classified as fibrous peat and H1–H4 in Von Post scale. Its liquid limit is 119%. In all tests, the peat used for the tests passing 2 mm and remain on .15 mm. The rounded sand used for making sand column is poorly graded passing from 2 mm sieve size and retaining on 1 mm sieve size. The tests conducted to investigate effect of area ratio of sand column on shear strength and compressibility of the peat. Three different area ratios were used for both compressibility and shear strength tests. Consolidation test results showed that when the area ratio increases compressibility characteristic of the peat ...

This paper reports the results of a study conducted to investigate the effects of rice husk powder (RHP) on the rheological properties and the fluidity of grout mixtures. The experiments were carried out with the grout mixtures including of 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20% content of RHP and 0.75, 1.00, 1.25 and 1.50 ratios of water–cement. The purpose of the study is to provide a new knowledge about using RHP as a filler in cement grouts in order to improve the grout methods and services, and achieve a good product performance. Test results showed that the increase in RHP content in the mix increases the plastic viscosity with all water–cement ratios. At 0.75, 1.00 and 1.25 ratios of water–cement, the grout mixtures showed shear-thinning behavior. On the other hand, this behavior changes to shear-thickening behavior at $$w/c = 1.50$$ at all RHP percentages. Experimental results indicated that this waste product can be utilized as a filler in cement grout for geotechnical application such as filling large voids.

Understanding the basic phenomena controlling the mobilization of friction at the soil-solid surface contact is essential for such traditional foundation structures such as piles, micropiles and anchors. In this study, the interface frictional characteristics of organic soil and a variety solid construction materials, including concrete, steel, and wood, were investigated. The interface friction angles of organic soil-solid surfaces were determined for different water content and granular soil content. In addition, the relationship between surface roughnesses and interface friction was investigated. All tests in this study were performed using a direct shear test device under different normal stresses. The test results showed that the frictional resistance between construction material and organic soil is affected by the water and granular soil content of the organic soil, the type of material, and the surface roughness.

The piled-raft foundation systems have started to be a very popular design method that is commonly used for especially high-rise buildings. In this foundation system, both raft and piles share the applied loads coming from the supper structures. There are several methods proposed by researchers in order to solve piled-raft foundation problems by simplified methods, approximate methods, and more sophisticated computer-based methods. These sophisticated computer-based solutions are not simply adapted to geotechnical works, and accessing these programs by everyone is not easy. The main purpose of this study is to present an easy and new technique for solving piled-raft problems with using 2D-FEM analysis combined with equivalent pier. In this study, design concepts of a pile-raft system prepared by 2D-FEM analysis combined with equivalent pier were presented. Furthermore, the test results obtained from this method were compared with the results that were taken from equivalent raft method and equivalent pier with single pile response in a sandy soil. A generic example of a piled-raft system including 3 × 3 number piles was designed, and its some properties such as length of pile (10–28 m), pier-soil stiffness ratio (1000–5000), and spacing between the piles (2–4 m) were evaluated and compared as variables. It was concluded from this study that equivalent pier with 2D-FEM analysis can make very similar predictions for calculating settlements of piled-raft system regarding on equivalent pier with single pile response method. As a result of this study: (1) as aspect ratio of piled-raft system increases, raft to pile stiffness ratio gradually increases for all s/d ratios, (2) the efficiency exponents obtained from this study ranges between 0.46 and 0.58 values, (3) stiffness of the piled-raft system gradually increases with increase of slenderness ratio for both two equivalent pier methods, and (4) as slenderness ratio increases, stiffness ratio of the piled-raft system contrarily decreases. © 2019, Saudi Society for Geosciences.

With the increase in industrialization, the amount of fly ash (FA), which is one of the industrial solid wastes causing environmental and human health problems, is increasing day by day. Waste valorization and reuse methods need to be developed for this waste ash. The construction industry is the main sector where it is used. In this study, it is aimed to evaluate the usability of industrial FA in the production of economical and useful building panels and to determine their physical-mechanical properties. FA supplied from İsken Sugözü Thermal Power Plant (ISTPP), ordinary Portland cement (OPC) supplied from ÇİMSA Cement Industry and Trade Inc., molding plaster (MP) and lime are the materials of this study. Particle distribution curves were determined by using laser scattering method for FAISTPP. In this study, compressive and flexural strengths, water absorption, bulk density and porosity as mechanical and physical tests were made in the building panels having the combination of FAISTPP+cement FAISTPP+MP and FAISTPP+lime in contribution ratios of 10, 30, 50, 70 and 90%FAISTPP. The results of the experiments show that the highest compressive strengths values in 7 and 28 days found in the building panels having combination of 90% cement+10% FAISTPP are 57.30 and 64.20 MPa, respectively. It was determined that the value-added building panels could be produced from FAISTPP, an industrial solid waste, in the appropriate proportions of cement contribution.

This study was carried out with an intention to observe any sign of improvement of clayey soil due to addition of waste soda lime glass powder (WSLGP). Waste soda lime glasses were crushed and sieved through #200 (75 μm) sieve and mixed with clay in 3, 6, 9, and 12% in dry weight of the clay. Strength and consistency test were carried out on mixed samples after curing. The test results indicated that the addition of WSLGP into clay has a significant effect on the strength and consistency properties of the clay.

This work presents an investigation of the effect of waste aluminum beverage cans strips on strength and swelling properties of lean clay. Waste beverage cans (WBC) were cut into 5 mm strips and mixed with soil in 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10% (dry weight of soil) before use. Three standard tests were carried on the prepared samples: compaction, free swelling, and California Bering Ratio (CBR). Test results showed that WBC significantly affected the compaction characteristics, swelling and strength properties of the clay.

The increasing contamination of soils, sediments, and water with heavy metals through natural and industrial processes is a worldwide problem. Mining processes produce tons of material contaminated with radionuclides such as U and different heavy metals such as Cd, Ni, and Pb. U(VI) adsorbs strongly on bacteria, exhibiting pH-dependent adsorption behavior that is caused by a range of uranyl surface complexes on bacteria cell walls. The Amycolatopsis sp. K47 was isolated from Manisa Koprubasi Kasar open-cast uranium mine and identified for the first time. Using the batch adsorption method, the biosorption potential of this microbe was investigated by studying the effects of changes in pH (1–10), biomass dose (0.1–5 g/l), initial uranium metal concentration (5–200 mg/l), contact time (5–180 min), and temperature (20–60 °C). Interpretation of FTIR data obtained for both the uranium loaded and unloaded Amycolatopsis sp. K47 biomass showed the presence of carboxylic acid, hydroxyl, and amide functional groups that could interact with uranium ions. Scanning electron microscopy images demonstrated that uranium was intensely adsorbed on the microbial biomass surface. The sorption isotherms were investigated by analysis of the Langmuir, Freundlich, and Dubinin–Radushkevich (D–R) models. The Langmuir isotherm model was found to show the best fit for the experimental data obtained. Furthermore, thermodynamic parameters, such as ΔH°, ΔS°, and ΔG°, were calculated using adsorption equilibrium constant obtained from the Langmuir isotherm. The optimal experimental conditions were determined to be pH = 4, C0 = 40 ppm, t = 150 min, temp. = 40 °C, and abs. dose = 1 g/l, and the corresponding U(VI) removal efficiency was about 97 ± 2%.

Gold nanoparticles are exciting materials because of their potential applications in optics, electronics, biomedical, and pharmaceutical fields. In recent years, environmentally friendly, low-cost biosynthesis methods with bio-applicable features have continued to be developed for the synthesis of gold nanoparticles. In the present study, an actinobacterial strain was isolated from the Petrosia ficiformis (Poiret 1798) sponge, which was collected from a marine environment, and the gold nanoparticle synthesis was performed for the first time from the bacteria type belonging to the Citricoccus genus. The synthesis conditions were optimized using the Box–Behnken experimental design, with a statistical method that included three independent variables (temperature, time, and mixture ratio) to affect the synthesis at three levels (+1, 0, and −1). Accordingly, the conditions proposed for the biosynthesis of gold nanoparticles at the maximum optical density values that are specific for the Citricoccus sp. K1D109 strain were estimated as 35°C temperature, 24 h, and 1/5 mixture ratio (cell-free extract/HAuCl4 · 3H2O). When recommended conditions were applied, it was determined that the maximum absorbance of the synthesized gold nanoparticles is 1.258 at 545 nm, and their sizes are in the range of 25–65 nm, according to transmission electron microscopy (TEM) data.

Pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEX) is a systemic disease with a 5–25% prevalence in all societies worldwide (genetically linked and influenced by race, age, and environmental factors). PEX is characterized by a grayish-white, bran-like fibrillar extracellular material in the intraocular and extraocular structures such as the pupillary flank, lens anterior capsule, iridocorneal angle, ciliary body and zonules, anterior hyaloid face, trabecular meshwork, corneal endothelium, and lid conjunctiva [1–3]. However, although the abovementioned features of PEX are known, the definitive etiopathology has not been fully elucidated. Studies to date have reported that this condition is associated with extreme accumulation of abnormally structured extracellular material in intraocular and ectodermal tissues [4]. )erefore, associations between molecules such as elastin, fibronectin, amyloid, fibrilin-1, and PEX were investigated, and their relationship was revealed. In addition, other studies have reported increased growth factors in the aqueous humor of patients with PEX. Another study group (Schlotzer-shrehud et al.) reported that the concentrations of matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitors in the aqueous humor of PEX patients were increased [5]., Purpose. Pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEX) is an eye disease that develops under the influence of regional population differences, genetic factors, age, and environmental factors and is characterized by visualization of a gray-white fibrogranular substance in the lens anterior capsule and/or pupil margin during anterior segment examination. )e underlying biochemical mechanisms of the disease have not yet been fully elucidated. )erefore, this study was designed to show the changes in aqueous humor and blood serum levels of matrix metalloproteinases (decorin and tenascin C), total antioxidants (TAS), and total oxidants (TOS) in both cataract patients who have unilateral PEX material and cataract patients who do not have unilateral PEX material. Methods. Biological samples were simultaneously collected from 22 cataract patients who had unilateral pseudoexfoliation (PEX patients) and 22 cataract patients who did not have unilateral pseudoexfoliation (control patients). From the collected biological samples, decorin (DEC) and tenascin C (TN-C) were measured with the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method, and TAS and TOS were measured with an autoanalyzer. Results. When decorin, tenascin C, and TOS values of PEX patients were compared with those of control patients, there was a statistically significant increase in all three parameters. Conversely, TAS values showed a statistically significant decrease in PEX patients compared to controls. DEC, TN-C, TAS values, and TOS values were significantly higher in aqueous fluid than in blood in both the PEX patient and control groups. Conclusions. We suggest that parameters such as DEC, TN-C, TAS, and TOS play a role in the etiopathology of pseudoexfoliation syndrome. )us, bringing these increased levels of extracellular proteins and TOS and decreased levels of TAS back to within physiological limits can mediate the reorganization of the blood-aqueous fluid barrier and slow the progression of pseudoexfoliation syndrome.

The effects of alpha-iron oxide (alpha-Fe2O3) and gamma-iron oxide (gamma-Fe2O3) nanoparticles (NPs) on marine microalgae species (Nannochloropsis sp. and Isochrysis sp.) were investigated in this study. Both Fe2O3 NPs covered the surface of algae with the agglomerates of the nanoparticles. This form of physical NP toxicity significantly decreased the sizes of phytoplankton. Both NPs were toxic to the tested algal species, while alpha-Fe2O3 showed less toxicity than gamma-Fe2O3 NPs for both algal species. A comparative analysis of growth data of the two algal species treated with alpha-Fe2O3 or gamma-Fe2O3 NPs revealed that Isochrysis sp. are more sensitive than Nannochloropsis sp. Toxicity of these widely used NPs to primary producers forming the base of the food chain in aquatic environments might result in widespread adverse effects on aquatic environmental health.

This paper investigates the fluidity and rheological properties of the cement based grout mixed with rice husk ash (RHA). The experimental program consisted of fifteen different mixture having 5%, 10%, 20%, and 30% RHA content and three different water to binder ratios (w/b = 0.75%, 1.00%, and 1.25%). Workability properties (marsh cone flow time, plate cohesion, and mini slump diameter), plastic viscosity, apparent viscosity, and the yield stress of the mixtures were determined. Test results showed that increasing replacement level for the RHA amount increases marsh cone flow time, plate cohesion, plastic and apparent viscosity, and the yield stress, but also decreases mini slump diameter. Shear thickening and pseudo-plastic behavior was observed for high RHA content for w/b ratios greater than 1.00.

This article presents the result of laboratory study conducted on expansive soil specimens treated with lignin, rice husk powder (RHP) and rice husk ash (RHA). The amount of lignin produced from paper industry and RHP were varied from 0 to 20% and RHA from 0 to 10% by weight. The treated specimens were subjected to unconfined compressive strength (UCS),swelling test and Atterberg limit tests. The effect of additives on UCS and atterberg limit test results were reported. It was observed that the additives and curing duration had a significant effect on the strength value of treated specimens. Generally (except the sample treated with 20% RHP for 3-day) with increasing additive and curing duration the UCS value increases. A RHP content of 15% was found to be the optimum with regard to 3-day cure UCS.

In past few years, the use of bacterial calcium carbonate precipitation (biocementation) has become popular as a ground improvement technique for sandy soil. However, this technique was not applied to organic soil. This study focused on bacterial calcium carbonate precipitation and its effect on permeability in organic soil. A special injection system was prepared for inducing bacterial solution to the samples. The bacterial solution supplied to the samples by gravity for 4 days in specific molds designed for this work. Calcite precipitation was observed by monitoring pH value and measuring amount of calcium carbonate. Change in the permeability was measured before and after biocementation. The test results showed that the pH values indicates that the treatment medium is appropriate for calcite precipitation, and amount of precipitated calcium carbonate in organic soil increased about 20% from untreated one. It was also found that the biocementation can be considered as an effective method for reducing permeability of organic soil. The results were supported by Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis and energy-dispersive x-ray (EDX) analysis.