Search

Lignin-based biorefineries are gaining importance day by day to obtain many value-added products from lignin. One of the most important processes that allow the recovery of both cellulose and lignin in those biorefineries is organosolv pretreatment. In this study, organosolv pretreatment was applied to the hazelnut shell at 130 °C for 60 min with ethylene glycol and γ-valerolactone solvents in the presence of a catalyst (either phosphoric acid or acetic acid). The success of solvent-catalyst systems was assessed by delignification efficiency and lignin recovery. Lignins obtained by precipitation were also analyzed by FTIR, TGA, DSC and Py-GC/MS. Highest delignification efficiency (33.9%) was detected for ethylene glycol- phosphoric acid solvent-catalyst pair. It was observed that acetic acid was not an effective catalyst compared to phosphoric acid. The delignification efficiency of γ-valerolactone was low (< 26 %) under atmospheric conditions, and in the presence of acetic acid, lignin was not precipitated from GVL system.

Bio-based activated carbon is a promising porous material for the use in electrodes for supercapacitors due to its low-cost production, high surface area with controllable pore structure and better thermal properties. Apart from activation type and conditions, the content of lignocellulosic biomass (namely cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin) is also a critical parameter on textural properties of activated carbon. In the present study, glycerol organosolv treatment was applied to fractionate lignin and cellulose from hazelnut shells. Hazelnut shell, lignin and cellulose-rich pulp mixed separately with KOH at a ratio of 1:2, and each mixture was activated for 1 h at 800 °C. FTIR results showed that lignin-based (AL) and cellulose-based activated carbons (AC) had more oxygen-containing functional groups, while AL had more aromatic structure. While activated carbon of hazelnut shell (ANS) had the highest specific surface area (1052.2 m2/g) and micropore volume (0.427cm3/g), AC had the least specific surface area (319.07 m2/g) and micropore volume (0.107cm3/g). While AL and ANS had microporous structure, AC was classified as mesoporous activated carbon. Due to high amount of oxygen-rich surface functional groups, high specific surface area and pore diameter of higher that 1 nm, activated carbon of hazelnut shell is a good candidate to be used as an electrode material. But, since the specific surface area and pore diameter are not the only factors that affect the capacitance, future work will include an electrochemical performance test to ANS, AL and AC.

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has seriously affected older adults’ social lives, physical activity, and cognitive functions. Additionally, the lockdowns have disrupted regular healthcare for patients with chronic illnesses or needing acute care. Furthermore, the pandemic has negatively affected different psychosocial influences in each country due to the various cultural characteristics, technology, health system, and financial opportunities. This study aimed to investigate the effects of COVID-19 on mood, social participation, and healthcare use in older adults living in Turkey. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted during the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic (March-December 2021) in three medical centers in Turkey. Patients aged 60 + years without significant cognitive impairment were recruited by mail or at hospital admissions. Information on demographics, pandemic-related distancing measures, healthcare use, lifestyle, symptoms of anxiety, depression, and social participation were assessed. Results A total of 343 participants were included in the study. Women had a higher rate of hypertension, symptoms of anxiety, depression, and fatigue compared to men (p

Background: Skin injuries, such as burns, can result in an open wound that can lead to the deterioration of the skin, which acts as a protective barrier against external agents, and can cause serious health problems. Pectin, a plant-derived polysaccharide, is a suitable candidate for wound care due to its gel-forming ability and biocompatibility. Pectin absorbs wound exudates to form a soft gel and is known for its strong anti-inflammatory efects. Pectin-based hydrogel systems promote wound healing by promoting fibroblast proliferation and keratinocyte migration. Methods: In the study, 60 male Wistar albino rats were used, and 6 diferent treatment groups were formed: Healthy control, burn control, silver sulfadiazine, pectin-based hydrogel system, pectin-based hydrogel system+iodine, pectin-based hydrogel system+plant extract. Rats with burn wounds were treated for 21 days, and the wound healing process was evaluated by macroscopic, biochemical, and histopathological analysis. Results: The results showed that the pectin-based hydrogel system, iodine, and plant extracts promoted healing in burn wounds. Especially in the groups treated with silver sulfadiazine and plant extracts, the development of granulation tissue and regeneration of collagen fibers showed significant improvement. Furthermore, the pectin-based hydrogel system is thought to contribute to wound healing by maintaining skin moisturization. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) levels decreased in the treatment groups compared to the burn group, and it was determined that these factors play an important role in wound healing. Conclusion: This study shows that pectin-based hydrogel systems can be an efective alternative in burn treatment, and their healing efects can be enhanced by the addition of iodine and plant extracts.

Background and Objectives: Rotator cuff tendonitis (RCT) is one of the most common shoulder pathologies. It causes pain, limits shoulder joint movements, and impairs function. Despite various treatment methods, there are currently no specific guidelines regarding the most effective intervention for RCT. To the best of our knowledge, no studies have compared the effects of Kinesio taping (KT) and cold therapy (CT) on individuals with RCT. To this end, this study aimed to investigate and compare the short-term effects of KT and CT on pain relief and upper extremity functionality in individuals with RCT. Materials and Methods: One hundred and fourteen individuals were assessed for eligibility. Fifty-two individuals with RCT who met the inclusion criteria and agreed to participate were randomly allocated into either the KT or the CT group. A standardized home exercise program was given to all the participants. Their pain intensity, upper extremity function, shoulder range of motion (ROM), and grip strength were evaluated initially and after the three days of KT or CT applications. Results: All the assessment values significantly improved in the KT group. In the CT group, only the pain scores (except for the numerical rating scale (NRS) pain score during activity) were significantly improved in the CT group at the end of the third day of application compared to the initial values (p < 0.05). For all the measurement outcomes, the effects of time × group interactions were statistically significant (p < 0.05) in favor of the KT group, except for the resting pain (p = 0.688). Conclusions: The findings suggest that KT and CT could be used as adjunctive modalities to exercise for resting and night pain relief in patients with RCT. KT also had positive effects on the activity pain, function, ROM, and grip strength. The use of KT along with an exercise program could be a more effective therapeutic choice than the use of CT for improving night pain, activity pain, and upper extremity function during the short-term rehabilitation of RCT patients.

IntroductionThis study aimed to characterize six early clusters of COVID-19 and derive key transmission parameters from confirmed cases that were traced between April and June 2020 in Bahrain.MethodsPairs of “infector-infectee” allowed us to map the clusters and estimate the incubation period serial interval as the secondary attack rate. The chi-squared test, with a p-value computed using the Monte Carlo test, measured associations between categorical variables. Statistical analysis was performed using R software and the “data.tree, tidyverse” libraries.ResultsFrom 9 April to 27 June 2020, we investigated 596 individuals suspected of COVID-19, of whom 127 positive cases were confirmed by PCR and linked in six clusters. The mean age was 30.34 years (S.D. = 17.84 years). The male-to-female ratio was 0.87 (276/318), and most of the contacts were of Bahraini citizenship (511/591 = 86.5%). Exposure occurred within the family in 74.3% (411/553), and 18.9% of clusters' cases were symptomatic (23/122 = 18.9%). Mapped clusters and generations increased after 24 May 2020, corresponding to “Aid El-Fitr.” The mean incubation period was 4 days, and the mean serial interval ranged from 3 to 3.31 days. The secondary attack rate was 0.21 (95% C.I.) = [0.17–0.24].ConclusionCOVID-19 transmission was amplified due to the high number of families mixing during “Aid El Fitr” and “Ramadhan,” generating important clusters. Estimated serial intervals and incubation periods support asymptomatic transmission.

Introduction The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the anxiety level of smokers and the relationship between smoking behavior and COVID-19 anxiety level. Methods Our study was planned as a descriptive cross-sectional survey. A 32-question face-to-face questionnaire containing the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS) and the Fagerström test for nicotine dependence (FTND) was administered to 349 patients who had applied to the smoking cessation polyclinic between 15 May 2021 and 1 August 2021. SPSS 25.00 was used for statistical analysis. Results A total of 349 individuals participated in the study. The mean CAS and FTND total scores were 0.89±2.13 (range: 0–20) and 6.34±2.53 (range: 0–10), respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between CAS total score and gender (p=0.005), marital status (p=0.006), changes in the amount of smoking during the pandemic (p=0.011), and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on smoking cessation (p

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic, as well as efforts to prevent its spread, have had a strong impact on the delivery of rehabilitative services in Germany. While several studies have addressed the impact of these developments on health service providers and COVID-19 patients, little is known about its impact on patients in need of rehabilitative treatment because of other conditions. This study aims to identify expectations, concerns and experiences of rehabilitation patients related to service delivery in this situation. Methods Using a qualitative study design, user posts from six German online forums between March and Mid-November 2020 were systematically searched with respect to experiences, concerns and expectations of health care users toward receiving rehabilitative treatment. We used qualitative content analysis with inductive coding as our methodological approach. Results Users fearing physical or psychological impairment were concerned about not receiving timely or effective treatment due to closed hospitals, reduced treatments and limited admissions. In contrast, patients more concerned about getting infected with COVID-19 worried about the effectiveness of protective measures and being denied postponement of treatment by the funding bodies. During their stay, some patients reported feeling isolated due to contact restrictions and did not feel their treatment was effective, while others reported being satisfied and praised hospitals for their efforts to ensure the safety of the patients. Many patients reported communication problems before and during their treatment, including concerns about the safety and effectiveness of their treatment, as well as financial concerns and worries about future treatments. Several users felt that their concerns were disregarded by the hospitals and the funding bodies, leaving them feeling distressed, insecure and dissatisfied. Conclusions While some users report only minor concerns related to the pandemic and its impact on rehabilitation, others report strong concerns relating not only to their own health and safety, but also to financial aspects and their ability to work. Many users feel ignored and disregarded, showing a strong need for more coordinated strategies and improved communication specifically with funding bodies like health insurance companies and the German pension funds.

Introduction/aimFrail and cognitively impaired older patients are particularly vulnerable groups during the pandemic. Lockdowns, social isolation, and physical inactivity considerably affect physical and mental wellbeing. During the pandemic process, routine medical checks and acute medical care services may be disrupted. The study aimed to demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of telemedicine in the delivery of healthcare services to elderly patients during the pandemic.Materials and methodsE-mails sent to the e-mail address of the department of geriatrics, which has been actively used for 4 years, between April 2020 and June 2021, were retrospectively evaluated. The time and reason for each application, referral to the patients, demographic data of the patients, and chronic diseases were recorded. E-mail frequencies were considered monthly time series, and time series charts for e-mail frequencies from patients were produced.ResultsA total of 374 e-mails that 213 patients sent were assessed. A vast majority, 97.6% of the e-mails, were sent by proxies. The mean age of patients was 78.7 ± 8.1 years, and 59.2% were women. Hypertension and dementia were the most common comorbidities. The applications mostly occurred in April-May and October-November 2020. The most common complaint in dementia was behavioral disturbances (13.6%). Geriatric outpatient appointments were arranged for 29.9% of the applicants, 14.2% were referred to the emergency department, and 23.0% were offered medical treatment. Outpatient examination and treatment were completed in 15% of the patients and 10.4% of them were hospitalized. The time series charts showed that e-mails were sent more frequently by patients with dementia than the others (p = 0.03).ConclusionsTelemedicine, which enables many problems of patients to be solved in geriatric practice without face-to-face appointments, can also prevent infections and unnecessary hospitalizations, especially during these unusual pandemic days.

Minimal plasmids play an essential role in many intermediate steps in molecular biology. For example, they can be used to assemble building blocks in synthetic biology or be used as intermediate cloning plasmids that are ideal for PCR-based mutagenesis methods. A small backbone also opens up for additional unique restriction enzyme cloning sites. Here we describe the generation of pICOz, a 1185-bp fully functional high-copy cloning plasmid with an extended multiple cloning site. We believe that this is the smallest high-copy cloning vector ever described.

Sabri Erturhan'ın Temel Fıkıh Bilgileri adlı kitabının tanıtımı.

Antik schwannomlar nadiren görülen tümörlerdir. Genellikle retroperiton yerleşimlidirler. Asemptomatik olarak büyük boyutlara ulaşabilmektedir. Radyolojik tetkikler tümörün yerleşimi ve karakteri hakkında yardımcı olmaktadır. Tedavisi cerrahi olarak rezeksiyondur. Tanısı patolojik olarak konur.

Ancient schwannomas are rarely seen tumors. Generally they are located in retroperitoneum. They can arrive larger diameters without clinical symptoms. Radiological imaging is beneficial for location and morphology of tumor. The treatment is surgical resection of tumor. It is diagnosed by pathology specimen. [Cukurova Med J 2015; 40(Suppl 1): 147-150]

The purposes of this study were to determine whether moderately physically active (MPA) and highly physically active (HPA) male (n = 96, age = 22.5 ± 1.7 years) and female (n = 85, age = 21.3 ± 1.6 years) young adults differed in their anthropometric obesity indices (AOIs), body fat percentage (BF%), and muscular strength, and also to examine the associations between physical activity level (PAL) and the abovementioned variables. Participants were measured for body height and weight, BF%, waist and hip circumferences, and maximal isometric grip strength. According to their PAL, estimated by the short version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, they were assigned to MPA and HPA subgroups. Regardless of gender, results indicated that participants in the MPA groups had significantly higher values of body weight, waist and hip circumference, BF%, and BMI than participants in the HPA groups. No significant differences were found between physical activity groups in terms of grip strength. The AOIs and BF% were found to be significantly and negatively correlated with the PAL in both genders. In conclusion, the findings of the study suggest that high habitual physical activity is associated with lower adiposity markers. However, the differences in the hand grip strength of the contrasting activity groups were negligible.