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Objective(s): We aimed to investigate the levels of transient receptor potential melastatin (TRPM) gene expression, and the antioxidant and histopathologic effect of thymoquinone (Tmq) in the hepatic I/R rat model.Materials and Methods: Fifty Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups. Group 1: Control; Group 2: Sham; Group 3: Hepatic I/R (45 min/45 min); Group 4: Tmq (50 mg/kg); Group 5: Tmq+I/R (ten days before I/R at the dose of 50 mg/kg of Tmq). The hepatic I/R (45min/45min) model was performed at the portal vein and the hepatic artery with atraumatic vascular clamp in the ischemia groups. The liver tissues and blood samples that were taken at the end of the study were evaluated for histopathologic and biochemical analysis. Besides TRPM gene expression levels were determined in liver tissues. It was seen that cellular swelling, congestion, PNL, and apoptosis parameters statistically decreased in Tmq and Tmq+I/R groups in comparison with the I/R group in histopathological evaluation.Results: It was observed that biochemical parameters, AST, ALT, GGT, LDH, creatinine, and urea levels significantly increased in the I/R group as compared with, sham, Tmq, and Tmq+I/R groups. It was found that TRPM2,6,7,8 gene expression decreased significantly in Tmq+I/R groups as compared to the I/R group. Conclusion: We showed that thymoquinone can inhibit the entry of Ca+2 into the cell by decreasing TRPM2,6,7,8 gene expression. Based on our findings, we think that Tmq application in the treatment of liver diseases due to I/R damage may be important in terms of both ischemia and apoptosis and can also be used in the treatment of liver-related diseases.

In STEMNET's report, 76% of 500 teachers interviewed stated that joining the STEM Club increased students' ability to solve real-world problems. This study aims to develop a valid and reliable measurement tool for evaluating STEM clubs. The research sample consisting of 149 teachers who carry out STEM club activities in schools in Turkey was determined using the purposive sampling method. Content and construct validity and reliability analyses have been performed for this purpose. To ensure content validity, (1) a pool of questions based on the literature was created, (2) draft scale items were determined, (3) an expert was allowed to check them, and (4)item difficulty and discrimination index were calculated. To ensure construct validity, (1) exploratory factor analyses (EFA) and (2) confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) were performed on both the same and different samples. As a result of the analyses, having the same data set be analyzed with different software was sufficient for verifying the factor structure. A three-factor structure consisting of 29 items was obtained, which explains 52% of the variance. Cronbach’s alpha of reliability for the overall scale was calculated as .92. As a result, a valid and reliable scale was determined to have been developed for researchers and program practitioners to evaluate STEM clubs. Suggestions have been made that the scale can be used on STEM clubs at the provincial, district, and school levels to determine their efficiency and productivity.

Mean platelet volume (MPV) has been reported to be related to inflammation. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a protein produced by the prostate, and this protein may be elevated for several reasons, including prostatitis, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and/or cancer. The aim of the current study was to investigate the predictive effect of MPV values on nonsymptomatic prostatitis diagnosis and the relation between MPV and PSA. A total of 275 patients, 89 affected by benign prostate hyperplasia, 94 by prostate adenocancer, and 92 by prostatitis were included in the current study. PSA, total blood count parameters, and urine analysis were investigated. Findings were compared with the groups. The correlation between MPV and the other parameters were analyzed. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to determine independent predictors of nonsymptomatic prostatitis diagnosis. MPV was significantly higher in patients with nonsymptomatic prostatitis than the other groups. There were negative correlations between MPV and age, total PSA or free PSA ( r = −.123; p = .042, r = −.235; p < .001, r = −.184; p = .006, respectively). According to multivariate regression model, only MPV was identified as the predictive factor for nonsymptomatic prostatitis (odds ratio: 1.451, 95% confidence interval [1.116, 1.887], p = .005). MPV, in the absence of other reasons that increased the MPV level, was significantly increased in cases with nonsymptomatic prostatitis; this increase is significantly higher than elevated PSA level in nonsymptomatic prostatitis patients. MPV could have a predictive value for the diagnosis of nonsymptomatic prostatitis.

Introduction. Splenic hematomas usually occur after blunt abdominal trauma. Most of the subcapsular hematomas will be resolved and reabsorbed spontaneously. However in rare cases, some of them organize and form calcified splenic masses. Angiosarcoma is an uncommon primary tumor of the spleen. Splenic angiosarcoma behaves extremely aggressive and has poor prognosis. Case Presentation. We report a forty-nine-year-old white male with organized splenic hematoma due to traffic accident mimicking splenic angiosarcoma. Conclusion. Both angiosarcoma and splenic organized hematoma have nonspecific symptoms and clinical findings. Because of the risk of hemorrhage and rupture, fine-needle biopsy should not be preferred. In case of splenic masses, excision and spleen-conserving surgery or total splenectomy should be performed.

This study aims to examine science teachers' views and concerns about artificial intelligence (AI). Phenomenology design, one of the qualitative research method designs, was used in the study. The study group consisted of five science teachers, one doctoral and four master's degree graduates. Semi-structured interview was preferred as a data collection tool. Inductive content analysis was used to analyze the data. Participants defined AI as robots with humanoid behavior and alternative learning tools. Teachers stated that AI increased academic achievement, motivation and class participation rate. It was found that the participants' concerns about AI stemmed from lack of experience and knowledge, security issues and reliability of information. It was also concluded that the participants were concerned about workload, asocialization, decrease in skills, and privacy of personal data. The participants stated that they had problems in terms of being technologically inadequate, not being able to adapt to AI and lack of knowledge, inadequate AI outputs, and difficulties in applied trainings. It is recommended that science teachers should be given practical trainings to reduce their concerns about AI.

Abstract This study aims to reveal the general trend by examining the publications made between 2007 and 2023 related to eTwinning under various themes. Meta-synthesis method, a qualitative research design, was employed in this study. It is aimed to reveal the big picture for eTwining. eTwining is a newer education platform. A few study is seen and no review article is published in the literature. The results are presented as frequency and percentages. The review revealed that the highest number of studies was carried out in 2021, and qualitative research was the most preferred method. In addition, the studies were primarily performed with teachers and students, and the most used data collection tool was the interview. Teacher opinions and language education were the most common subjects in publications. Based on these results, it was suggested to employ quantitative and mixed methods and include different sample groups in future research.

Microstructural, physical and mechanical properties of Al–20 wt% Si matrix alloy powders and those reinforced with TiB2 and their sintered composites were investigated in relation to TiB2 content and mechanical alloying (MA) durations. Al–20 wt% Si matrix alloy powders and those containing 5 and 10 wt% TiB2 reinforcing particles were MA’d for 1, 2, 4, and 8 h followed by consolidation and sintering at 843 K. Si solubility in a-Al matrix increased with increasing MA duration. Increasing the TiB2 content, on the other hand, resulted in a systematic drop in Si solubility over the same MA period. Scanning electron micrographs of the sintered samples revealed sub-micron-sized, rod-shaped Si and spherical Al9Si phase particles. With increasing TiB2 content and MA durations, the microhardness of the Al20Si/TiB2 composites improved. The wear resistances of TiB2 reinforced composites better by 5 to 8 times than that of the as-blended and 1 h MA’d AlSi matrix alloy. Due to the presence of the Al3Ti intermetallic phase, sintered composite samples containing 10 wt% TiB2 particles MA'd for 8 h had the maximum hardness value and lower wear resistance values than those of the Al–20 wt% Si/5 wt% TiB2 composites.

Al-10 wt% Si matrix composites reinforced with a few-layered graphene (FLG) were fabricated via a powder metallurgical route. FLG in varying amounts (0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, and 5 wt%) was incorporated into the Al-10Si matrix via mechanical alloying (MA) for different durations in a high-energy ball mill. The mechanically alloyed (MAed) powders were consolidated by uniaxial pressing and pressureless sintering processes. The as-blended (non-MAed) and MAed powders and bulk composites were investigated comparatively in terms of microstructural, thermal, mechanical, tribological and corrosion properties. The MAed powders demonstrated refined and semi-equiaxed particle morphology with reduced crystallite size values. Additionally, the FLG/Al10Si composites exhibited advanced microstructural and mechanical properties by the contribution of MA and reinforcing particles compared to those of the as-blended and unreinforced matrix. The highest hardness and lowest wear rate values were obtained for the 4 h-MAed Al10Si-2FLG (138 HV and 6.485x10-4 mm3/N.m) and Al10Si-5FLG (178 HV and 7.456x10-4 mm3/N.m) composites. Moreover, the compressive strength of the Al-10Si matrix improved approximately by 50 and 20% via 0.5 and 2 wt% FLG addition, respectively. Also, lower corrosion resistance properties were observed for the FLG reinforced composites compared to the Al10Si matrix.

Purpose This study aims to investigate the histopathological and biochemical effects of the topical application of Hypericum perforatum on the healing of surgical wounds created in the oral mucosa of rats with experimentally induced diabetes mellitus. Materials and methods The study was carried out on 48 adult male Wistar albino rats. The animals were divided into two main groups as control and study groups. Two main groups were divided into three subgroups according to the sacrification days. All rats were given streptozotocin 60 mg/kg, after 72 hours, and those having blood glucose levels above 200 mg/dL were included in the study. Mucosal defects were created in the palatal area of the rats. H. perforatum oil was applied topically twice a day to the wounds of the rats in the study group. Animal were sacrificed on the 3rd, 7th and 10th days and samples taken from the palatal wounds were examined histologically and biochemically. Results On the 7th day, ulceration, necrosis, epithelialization, polymorphonuclear leucocytes and hydroxyproline variables showed statistically significant differences (p

DOI: 10.26650/eor.2018.505Purpose This study aims to investigate the histopathological and biochemical effects of the topical application of Hypericum perforatum on the healing of surgical wounds created in the oral mucosa of rats with experimentally induced diabetes mellitus. Materials and methods The study was carried out on 48 adult male Wistar albino rats. The animals were divided into two main groups as control and study groups. Two main groups were divided into three subgroups according to the sacrification days. All rats were given streptozotocin 60 mg/kg, after 72 hours, and those having blood glucose levels above 200 mg/dL were included in the study. Mucosal defects were created in the palatal area of the rats. H. perforatum oil was applied topically twice a day to the wounds of the rats in the study group. Animal were sacrificed on the 3rd, 7th and 10th days and samples taken from the palatal wounds were examined histologically and biochemically. Results On the 7th day, ulceration, necrosis, epithelialization, polymorphonuclear leucocytes and hydroxyproline variables showed statistically significant differences (p

Granular cell tumor is a rare neoplasm that has been reported in a variety of organs, including the tongue, oral cavity, and subcutaneous tissue. However, breast is an unusual location for this tumor. Most granular cell tumors present as solitary lesions in the breast. There are a few cases of granular cell tumor of the breast, that have been reported, associated with other breast tumors, such as invasive or in situ ductal carcinoma. Because these tumors can mimic invasive breast cancer both with their clinical and radiological findings, they should always be kept in mind in order to avoid misdiagnosis, and prevent unnecessary treatment modalities. Herein, we present a rare case of granular cell tumor of the breast with associated hyalinized fibroadenoma, florid ductal epithelial hyperplasia and sclerosing adenosis, in a 58 year-old female.