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Objective: Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic infection caused by Toxoplasma gondii. Immunocompromised individuals and pregnant women are at risk, with the latter group being susceptible to miscarriages. This study aimed to determine the seropositivity of T. gondii antibodies and potential risk factors in pregnant women diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. Methods: The research was conducted at the Ankara City Hospital Perinatology Clinic between October 2021 and June 2022. The study included 277 pregnant women diagnosed with diabetes mellitus and 277 healthy pregnant women who had given birth. Retrospective analysis of anti-T. gondii immunoglobulin (Ig)G and IgM levels was performed for patients between January 2020 and February 2022. Participants were administered an informed consent form and a questionnaire. Data were analysed using SPSS 22. Results: Among pregnant women with diabetes, IgG seropositivity was 18.4%, IgM was 0.0%, and IgG+IgM was 0.0%. In healthy pregnant women, IgG seropositivity was 12.3%, IgM was 0.4%, and IgG+IgM was 0.4%. Overall, seropositivity rates were 15.3% for IgG, 0.2% for IgM, and 0.2% for IgG+IgM. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (p

Background: Emerging antibacterial resistance is a constant threat. Broad-spectrum antibiotics are preferred in empirical treatment for bloodstream infections (BSI) due to increasing resistance rates. METHODS: A prospective observational study was conducted in three tertiary hospitals in Türkiye. Microbiologically documented BSIs were collected between 1 November 2023 and 1 June 2024. Demographics, clinical information, and antimicrobial susceptibility tests for each BSI case were collected. RESULTS: A total of 618 BSI patients were included in the study and 55 (8.9%) of these BSIs were polymicrobial. Among 563 monomicrobial BSIs, the causative agent was gram-negative in 278 (49.4%), gram-positive in 247 (43.9%), and Candida spp. in 38 (6.7%) patients. Gram-positive and gram-negative species distribution is depicted in Figure 1 and 2, respectively. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) rate was 37%. Carbapenem resistance rate for K. pneumoniae was 62%. 30-day mortality was 48% in gram-negative BSI, and it was 66% if the causative agent is carbapenem resistant. BSI caused by MRSA had a 30-day mortality of 36%. The two most common empirical treatment choices were meropenem and piperacillin-tazobactam. Of patients receiving ineffective empirical treatment, 35% failed escalation in 24 hours after susceptibility results. More than 24-hour delay in de-escalation of meropenem was observed in 82% of gram-negative BSIs. Escalation in 24 hours was achieved in MRSA BSIs. Mean delay of 3.9 days were observed in de-escalation of vancomycin or teicoplanin in methicillin-susceptible S. aureus BSIs. CONCLUSION: Timely transition to targeted therapies is critical for antimicrobial stewardship especially when broad-spectrum antibiotics are preferred in empirical therapy.

ÖZ Amaç: Gülümseme, yüz estetiğinin değerlendirilmesinde ve bireylerin sosyal etkileşiminde önemli bir role sahiptir. Bir gülümsemenin estetik değerlendirmesinde kişilik özelliklerinin, etnik grupların ve mesleki deneyimlerin etkileri bugüne kadar araştırılan konular arasındadır. Günümüzde sosyal medyada tanınır olmanın da estetik algıyı etkileyebilecek faktörler arasında olduğu düşünülmektedir. Bu çalışma Çukurova Üniversitesi Diş Hekimliği Fakültesine başvuran hastaların sosyal medyada tanınan ve tanınmayan modeller üzerinde estetik algılarını değerlendirmek amacıyla yapılmıştır. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Araştırmanın örneklemini Çukurova Üniversitesi Diş Hekimliği Fakültesi'ne başvuran 18-65 yaş arası 70 kadın, 60 erkek 130 hasta oluşturmuştur. Dental estetik normlarına uymayan gülüşlere sahip (Gummy smile, diastema, orta hat kayması, üst santral çapraşıklık, düz gülüş arkı) sosyal medya tanınırlığına sahip beş ünlü kişi ve aynı özelliklere sahip ünlü olmayan beş kişi seçildi. Katılımcılardan tüm yüz ve ağız gülümseme fotoğraflarını 5'li Likert ölçeğine göre değerlendirmeleri istendi. Verilen puanları karşılaştırmak için Ki-kare testi kullanıldı. Tüm sonuçlar p

Few-layered graphene (FLG) reinforced Al-10 wt% Si-2 wt% Cu (Al10Si2Cu) matrix composites were fabricated via a powder metallurgical route. FLG powders were produced in an originally designed DC arc reactor via arc discharge method. Al, Si, Cu and FLG powders were subjected to high-energy ball milling at different durations to produce ternary Al alloy with homogeneously dispersed FLG, and bulk composites were fabricated via subsequent uni-axial compaction and pressureless sintering. The effects of varying FLG amounts and milling duration on the properties of the powder and bulk samples were investigated. The characterization of as-blended and mechanically alloyed (MAed) powders and their sintered forms were performed in terms of microstructural, thermal, mechanical, wear and corrosion properties. According to the results, the hardness values of the 4 h MAed Al10Si2Cu-xFLG composites were determined as 102, 154, 191 and 241 HV for x = 0, 1, 2 and 5 wt%, respectively. Despite the greater hardness value of the Al10Si2Cu-5FLG-4h composite, its compressive strength was low due to its brittle structure. The highest compressive strength was shown by the Al10Si2Cu-1FLG as 463 MPa by an approximate increase of 53% compared to that of the Al10Si2Cu matrix. Moreover, the tribology tests showed that FLG addition (up to 2 wt%) improved the wear rate of the Al10Si2Cu matrix. However, a deteriorative effect of FLG on the corrosion resistance of the composites was determined.

Breast cancer is one of the most important global health problems affecting both developed and developing countries. The identification of anticancer compounds, effective on breast cancer cells, is of key importance in chemoprevention investigations and drug development studies. In the literature, there are numerous compounds that have been analyzed for their cytotoxic effects on breast cancer cells, but there is no database where the researchers who want to design a new study on breast cancer can find these compounds all at once. This paper presents a relational database that stores the data of natural and synthetic compounds cytotoxically active on breast cancer cells. The database contains 381 cytotoxicity results and data of 159 compounds, compiled from selected 80 studies. When all this data in our database was queried, it was found out that quercetin, which is a dietary flavonoid, is the most analyzed compound, and MCF-7 cell line is the most used breast cancer cell line.

Celiac disease; is an autoimmune digestive system disease characterized by chronic intestinal inflammation and villus antrophy and triggered by dietary gluten genetically susceptible individuals. Diagnosis is based on serological tests and small bowel biopsy. Because of the diversity in the clinical features of the disease, various patient profile and the non-standardized serological tests, it is difficult to diagnose the celiac disease. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values are important parameters for the accuracy of the tests and they are missing in some clinicial studies. It is difficult do standardize the tests with these missing values for clinicians. The aim of this study is to train different machine learning algorithms and to test their performance in prediction of the diagnostic accurary parameters of celiac serological tests. Decision trees are effective machine learning algorithms for predicting potential covariates with %88,7 accuracy.

26 Ağustos 2021’de vefat eden seçkin dostum ve iş arkadaşım Sezen Tan’ı anmak üzere kaleme aldığım bu yazıda onun kendine özgü kişilik özelliklerine değinilmiş, Hacettepe Üniversitesi Kütüphanesi’nde önce kütüphaneci, sonra yönetici olarak geçirdiği meslek yaşamından söz edilmiş; onun kütüphanecilik alanındaki deneyim ve birikimine; Hacettepe Üniversitesi Kütüphanesi personeliyle ve bu kütüphanenin dışında çalışan meslekten kütüphaneciler ve kütüphane çalışanlarıyla ilişkilerine vurgu yapılmıştır. Son olarak da değerli bir iş arkadaşı ve yakın bir dost olarak bana katkıları, öğrettikleri ve hissettirdikleri üzerinde durulmuştur.

Sandfly-borne phleboviruses are endemic in countries around the Mediterranean Basin and pose a significant health threat for populations, with symptoms spanning from febrile diseases to central nervous system involvement. We carried out a comprehensive cross-sectional screening via microneutralization (MN) assays for a quantitative assessment of neutralizing antibodies (NAs) to seven phleboviruses representing three distinct serocomplexes, using samples previously screened via immunofluorescence assays (IFAs) in Turkey, an endemic region with various phleboviruses in circulation. We detected NAs to three phleboviruses: Toscana virus (TOSV), sandfly fever Naples virus (SFNV), and sandfly fever Sicilian virus (SFSV), while assays utilizing Adana virus, Punique virus, Massilia virus, and Zerdali virus remained negative. The most frequently observed virus exposure was due to TOSV, with a total prevalence of 22.6%, followed by SFNV (15.3%) and SFSV (12.1%). For each virus, IFA reactivity was significantly associated with NA detection, and further correlated with NA titers. TOSV and SFSV seroreactivities were co-detected, suggesting exposure to multiple pathogenic viruses presumably due to shared sandfly vectors. In 9.6% of the samples, multiple virus exposure was documented. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate widespread exposure to distinct pathogenic phleboviruses, for which diagnostic testing and serological screening efforts should be directed.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate and compare the risk in detecting cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 2+ or higher lesions by performing immediate colposcopy in patients with positive high-risk non-human papillomavirus (HPV) 16/18 subtypes, regardless of their cytology results. Material and Methods: A total of 264 patients with HPV-positive subtypes, aged 20-65 years, with any type of cervical cytology results were included in the study. A liquid-based cytologic cervical cancer screening with HPV testing was carried out between November 2020 and May 2021. Cytological specimens were classified according to the Bethesda system (2014), and HPV identification was analyzed with Cobas 4800 system. Colposcopy-guided endocervical curettage and endometrial biopsy were performed. Results: A total of 123 patients had HPV non-16/18 oncogenic types, wherein 34 (69.3%) had no dysplasia, 9 (18.3%) had CIN 1, and 2 (4.08%) had CIN 2-3. Conclusion: Colposcopic evaluation may be considered in cases of non-16/18 high-risk HPV subtypes with abnormal cytologic results. Among the patients who had negative cervical cytology and positive non-HPV-16/18, 4.08% were women with CIN 2-3. Following the algorithm according to the guidelines, there will be a risk of 4.08% of misdiagnosing CIN 2+ lesions by gynecologists. Organizing large-scale randomized controlled studies will help in understanding the meaning or importance of this topic.

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.

This large, international dataset contains survey responses from N = 12,570 students from 100 universities in 35 countries, collected in 21 languages. We measured anxieties (statistics, mathematics, test, trait, social interaction, performance, creativity, intolerance of uncertainty, and fear of negative evaluation), self-efficacy, persistence, and the cognitive reflection test, and collected demographics, previous mathematics grades, self-reported and official statistics grades, and statistics module details. Data reuse potential is broad, including testing links between anxieties and statistics/mathematics education factors, and examining instruments’ psychometric properties across different languages and contexts. Data and metadata are stored on the Open Science Framework website [https://osf.io/mhg94/].

The decoy effect is a violation of rationality that occurs when the relative preference between two target options changes with the addition of a third option, called the decoy, that is no better than the target options but worse than one of the options on one attribute. The presence of the decoy increases the chance that the option that dominates it on this attribute is chosen over the other target option. The current study tested decoy effects with great apes’ food preferences. We presented apes with two target items, grape and banana, and a third item, the decoy, which was either a smaller grape or a smaller piece of banana. We found that apes’ decisions were not influenced by the presence of a decoy. In general, apes did not increase their choices in favor of the target item that dominated the decoy. This would indicate that great apes are not vulnerable to the cognitive biases that cause decoy effects in humans, at least in cases where choice is between two different types of food. We discuss what can be concluded about the psychological causes of human irrational choices and their evolutionary origin.

This study reports on the mechanochemical synthesis (MCS) and consolidation of nanostructured CeB6 powders of high purity. CeB6 powders were prepared via MCS by milling CeO2, B2O3 and Mg powders in a high-energy ball mill for different milling times. The effects of milling time on the formation, microstructure and thermal behaviour of the synthesized powders were investigated and the optimum MCS duration was determined. Purified powders were obtained after HCl leaching by removing MgO by-product. The prepared powders were characterized by a number of techniques including X-ray diffraction, stereomicroscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive spectrometry, differential scanning calorimetry, atomic absorption spectrometry, particle size analysis, surface area analysis and vibrating sample magnetometry. The high-purity CeB6 powders having an average particle size of 86 nm were consolidated by cold-pressing followed by pressureless sintering at 1700 °C for 5 h. The bulk CeB6 specimen was investigated for its microstructure, density, electrical resistivity, surface roughness and some mechanical properties (microhardness and wear behaviour). The relative density, electrical resistivity, microhardness and wear rate of the bulk CeB6 were determined as 95.2% TD, 57.50 µΩ·cm, 11.65 GPa and 1.46 × 10−4 mm3/N·m, respectively.

The aim of this study was to compare the topographical, chemical and osseointegration characteristics of sandblasting and acid-etching (SLA) surfaces and dental implants treated by boron compounds. Titanium (Ti) disks (n = 20) were modified using boron (B) and boric acid (H3BO3) and then compared with the conventional SLA surface via surface topographic characterizations. Dental implants (3.5 mm in diameter and 8 mm in length) with the experimental surfaces (n = 96) were inserted into the tibias of six sheep, which were left to heal for 3 and 7 weeks. Histologic, histomorphometric (bone–implant contact (BIC%)) and mechanical tests (removal torque value (RTV)) were performed. The boron-coated surface (BC group) was smoother (Rz: 4.51 μm ± 0.13) than the SLA (5.86 μm ± 0.80) and the SLA-B (5.75 μm ± 0.64) groups (p = 0.033). After 3 weeks, the highest mean RTV was found in the SLA group (37 N/cm ± 2.87), and the difference compared with the BC group (30 N/cm ± 2.60) was statistically significant (p = 0.004). After 7 weeks, the mean RTV was >80 N/cm in all groups; the highest was measured in the H3BO3-treated (BS) group (89 N/cm ± 1.53) (p < 0.0001). No statistically significant differences were found in the BIC%s during both healing periods between the groups. H3BO3 seems to be a promising medium for dental implant osseointegration.

Candida tropicalis is the fourth leading cause of candidemia in Turkey. Although C. tropicalis isolates from 1997 to 2017 were characterized as fully susceptible to antifungals, the increasing global prevalence of azole-non-susceptible (ANS) C. tropicalis and the association between high fluconazole tolerance (HFT) and fluconazole therapeutic failure (FTF) prompted us to re-evaluate azole susceptibility of C. tropicalis in Turkey. In this study, 161 C. tropicalis blood isolates from seven clinical centers were identified by ITS rDNA sequencing, genotyped by multilocus microsatellite typing, and tested for susceptibility to five azoles, two echinocandins, and amphotericin B (AMB); antifungal resistance mechanisms were assessed by sequencing of ERG11 and FKS1 genes. The results indicated that C. tropicalis isolates, which belonged to 125 genotypes grouped into 11 clusters, were fully susceptible to echinocandins and AMB; however, 18.6% of them had the ANS phenotype but only two carried the ANS-conferring mutation (Y132F). HFT was recorded in 52 isolates, 10 of which were also ANS. Large proportions of patients infected with ANS and HFT isolates (89 and 40.7%, respectively) showed FTF. Patients infected with azole-susceptible or ANS isolates did not differ in mortality, which, however, was significantly lower for those infected with HFT isolates (P = 0.007). There were significant differences in mortality (P = 0.02), ANS (P = 0.012), and HFT (P = 0.007) among genotype clusters. The alarming increase in the prevalence of C. tropicalis blood isolates with ANS and HFT in Turkey and the notable FTF rate should be a matter of public health concern.

Abstract Background The prime significance of species belonging to the genus Culicoides Latreille, 1809 (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) is their ability to transmit viruses such as bluetongue virus (BTV) to wild and domestic ruminants. Prior to 1998, BTV was considered exotic in Europe, but according to recent history of its outbreaks, it has become endemic in southern and eastern European countries circulating beyond its expected historical limits, into the Balkan region. The wind-borne long-distance dispersal of Culicoides spp. over water bodies and local spreading between farms emphasize the necessity of filling in the information gaps regarding vector species distribution. In most Balkan countries, data on Culicoides fauna and species distribution are lacking, or information is old and scarce. Results During this study, 8586 specimens belonging to 41 species were collected. We present the first faunistic data on Culicoides species in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Kosovo, Montenegro and Serbia. For other countries (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria and Croatia), all historical records were compiled for the first time and then expanded with our findings to various extents. In all countries, confirmed or suspected BTV vector species belonging to the subgenera Avaritia and Culicoides were collected. The total number of species sampled during our field collections was 20 in Bosnia and Herzegovina (15 new records), 10 in Bulgaria (2 new records), 10 in Croatia (5 new records), 13 in FYROM, 9 in Kosovo, 15 in Montenegro, and 28 in Serbia. Of these, 14 species were registered for the first time in this part of the Balkans. Conclusions This paper provides the first data about Culicoides fauna in FYROM, Kosovo, Montenegro and Serbia, as well as new records and an update on the checklists for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria and Croatia. These findings provide preliminary insights into the routes of BTV introduction and spreading within the Balkans, and present a valuable contribution to further research related to Culicoides-borne diseases in Europe.

Each organ has a unique microbiota, formerly known as its flora. In discussions around microbiota, intestinal microbiota comes to mind first. Microbes in the intestinal microbiota are essential for shaping and maintaining human physiology, and play an active role in hemostasis. As the gastrointestinal system holds a lot of bacteria and neurons, it is often called the second brain. The gastrointestinal microbiota is formed in utero and is influenced by various environmental factors. It influences the functioning of the immune system, as well as affecting the regulation of the metabolism. In this context, the gastrointestinal microbiota is implicated in some types of cancer, type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease. It is thought that dysbiosis plays a part in the occurence of certain diseases. Therefore, it might be possible to prevent some diseases via the introduction of certain interventions. Further studies are needed in this field.

The present study aims to examine Internet use within Turkey’s elderly population. Further, the study’s objective is to record the main uses and gratifications of the elderly regarding the Internet, based on recollections of their specific experiences. The research methodology is based on semi-structured interviews with 29 people older than 65 years living in Istanbul. The Internet users were selected from participants of computer training courses in Public Education Centers. The result of this study shows that the main Internet uses motivations are "searching things" and maintaining "social connectivity". However, older adults face several unique difficulties and limitations when it comes to using the Internet. A lack of self-confidence is the main concern. Privacy concerns and lack of interest are additional primary barriers to elderly users. Even if elderly persons are well educated, healthy and socially active, they use the Internet in limited ways.

Bu anı yazısına 1950’lerin ortalarında kütüphane kurumuyla ve bu yılların sonlarında kütüphanecilikle tanışmamla başlamamın nedeni, çocukluk ve ilk gençlik yıllarımda kütüphane ve kütüphaneciliğin benim için ne ifade ettiğini anlatma isteğimdi. Daha sonra, Ankara Üniversitesi Dil ve Tarih-Coğrafya Fakültesi’nin Kütüphanecilik Bölümü’nde 1962-1966 yılları arasında aldığım lisans eğitiminin hangi temellere dayandığı hakkında bir fikir vermek ve bu döneme ilişkin bazı anılarıma değinmek istedim. Hacettepe Üniversitesi Kütüphaneleri’nde 1966’dan itibaren süren yaklaşık 26 yıllık çalışma hayatımın bazı mesleki ve kişisel anılarını da içeren yazımda, eğitimle desteklenen kütüphanecilik uygulamalarıma değindim. 1966-1975 yıllarında Hacettepe Üniversitesi Kütüphanesi’nin Tıp Kitaplarını Kataloglama Bölümü’nde, 1975-1985 arasında Hacettepe Üniversitesi Tıp Merkezi Kütüphanesi adını alan kütüphanenin Danışma Bölümü’nde çalışırken, bu bölümlerde hangi iş ve işlemlerin nasıl ve kimler tarafından yapıldığına, bu bölümlerdeki kendi uygulamalarıma da vurgu yaparak yer verdim. Söz konusu bölümlerde her bir iş aşamasına ilişkin uygulamalara değinirken, bu aşamalar hakkındaki görüşlerimi sunduğum ve bazı eklemeler yaptığım gibi, bunların bana hatırlattığı anıları da aktardım. Üniversitenin Beytepe Kampüsü Kütüphanesi’nde 1985-1992 arasındaki yöneticilik deneyimlerimden bir kısmını, o süre içinde yaşadığım ve etkilendiğim olaylardan ve anılarımdan bazılarını yazıma ekledim. Hacettepe Üniversitesi Kütüphaneleri’nde 1966-1992 arasında, çeyrek yüzyılı aşan bir sürede kütüphaneci olarak yaşadıklarımdan hareketle, ülkemiz üniversite kütüphanelerindeki çalışma ortamı ve koşullarının o yıllardaki durumundan küçük bir kesiti aydınlatmayı amaçladım. Aslında bu yazıda, temelde, kütüphanecilik uygulamalarıma eşlik eden lisansüstü eğitimim sırasında ve çeşitli mesleki eğitim etkinliklerinde edindiğim bilgilerin, mesleğim ve uygulamalarım üzerindeki olumlu etkilerini anılar kanalıyla yansıtmaya çalıştım. Geçmişteki kütüphane uygulamalarımızdan söz ederken, belleğimin beni yanılttığı durumlar olmuş olabilir. O zamanki yöneticilerim, birlikte çalıştığım meslektaşlarım ve hocalarım kendi anılarını kaleme aldıklarında, benim yanıldığım hususları aydınlığa kavuşturabilirler.