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Introduction: Cardiac arrest with cardioplegia is the most common and reliable method of myocardial protection in cardiac surgery, but there is no definite consensus on the use of different types of cardioplegia. Two of the commonly used types of cardioplegia are Bretschneider histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate solution (Custodiol) and conventional blood cardioplegia. In this study, Custodiol solution and conventional blood cardioplegia used in patients with type A aortic dissection who underwent supracoronary ascending aortic replacement were aimed to be compared in terms of postoperative results., Methods: 70 patients with type A aortic dissection who underwent supracoronary ascending aortic replacement in our clinic between January 2011 - October 2020 were included. Patients were divided into two groups, blood cardioplegia group ( n = 48) and Custodiol group ( n = 22) and they were compared regarding preoperative, perioperative and postoperative variables., Results: There was no significant difference between cardiopulmonary bypass time and cross-clamp time ( p = 0.17 and p = 0.16, respectively). Mechanical ventilator weaning time, intensive care unit stay and hospital stay were shorter in Custodiol group ( p = 0.04, p = 0.03 and p = 0.05, respectively). While inotropic support need was higher in the blood cardioplegia group ( p = 0.001), there was no significant difference in terms of mortality, arrhythmia, neurological complications and renal complications., Conclusions: Our results show that Custodiol cardioplegia solution may be superior to blood cardioplegia in reducing mechanical ventilation weaning period, intensive care and hospital stay, and reducing the use of inotropic agents in patients with type A aortic dissection undergoing supracoronary ascending aorta replacement., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Objectives: In addition to the hemostatic properties of hemostatic agents, the investigation of their immunogenic properties, their local effects on application area has been the subject of many experimental studies. There are limited data on the inflammatory effects of Bovine serum albumin-glutaraldehyde and Polyethylene glycol polymer. Therefore, we investigated the effects of these agents on tissue reactions and inflammation in rabbit carotid artery anastomosis in our experimental study., Methods: Twenty-one New Zealand male rabbits were randomly divided into three groups. The right carotid artery anastomosis was performed on the control group after transection. Hemostatic agents were applied locally to other two groups separately after transection and anastomosis. At the end of 28 days, the type of inflammation, inflammatory cell infiltration, degree of inflammation, and amount of residual adhesives were examined and compared statistically., Results: Cell infiltrations associated with inflammation on the anastomosis site (eosinophils, epithelioid/giant cells, lymphocytes, and plasma cells) and inflammation grade in the groups of hemostatic agents were significantly lower compared to the control group ( p < .05). There was no difference between the hemostatic agents. While mild inflammation (61.9%) was dominant in the groups of hemostatic agents, moderate inflammation (85.7%) was more common in the control group. No severe inflammation was observed in any of the three groups. Residual sealant grade between hemostatic agents did not differ significantly., Conclusions: When inflammation and tissue reactions of the 4th week were evaluated, it was determined that both hemostatic agents did not cause severe inflammation. However, comparative results at multiple time intervals are needed due to the dynamic process of inflammation.

It is well-known that wireless communication technologies facilitate human life. However, the harmful effects of electromagnetic field (EMF) radiation on the human body should not be ignored. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of long-term, prenatal exposure to EMF radiation on the myocardium of rats at varying durations. Overall, 18 pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned into six groups ( n = 3 in each group). In all groups other than the control group, three pregnant rats were exposed to EMF radiation (900, 1800 and 2100 MHz) for 6, 12 and 24 h over 20 days. After delivery, the newborn male pups were identified and six newborn male pups from each group were randomly selected . Then, histopathological and biochemical analysis of myocardial samples were performed. When 24-h/day prenatal exposures to 900, 1800, 2100 MHz EMF radiation were evaluated, myocardial damage was greater in the 2100 MHz EMF-24h group than the other groups. In addition, when malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels associated with reactive oxidative species (ROS) were evaluated, the MDA level was higher in the 2100 MHz EMF-24h group compared with the other groups. The GSH level was also lower in the 2100 MHz EMF-24h group. When the 6, 12 and 24 h/day prenatal exposures to 1800 MHz EMF radiation were evaluated, myocardial damage was greater in 1800 MHz EMF-24h group than the remaining groups ( p < 0.0001). Also, MDA level was greater in the 1800 MHz EMF-24h group compared with the other groups while the GSH level was lower in this group. It was shown that myocardial tissue was affected more by long-term exposure to EMF radiation at high frequencies. The data raise concerns that the harmful effects of non-ionizing radiation exposure on cardiac tissue will increase with 5G technology.

Research in economic geography has focused on the shift away from the standard employment relationship in the West; yet within these debates, non‐standard work is an amorphous stand‐in for many kinds of labour. Our aim is to account for absences and ambiguities within one form of non‐standard work – freelancing – to make the contours of this work more visible and to understand why a growing sector of the labour market is not well measured, protected or understood. Working from a Canadian case study, we first examine the conflicting ways freelancing is statistically measured, using an umbrella of intersecting terms that refer to labour or workers. Second, we critically review how freelancing is (not) legislated, organised and protected, areas of mediation which often still presume a standard employment relationship. Finally, we consider how the identity of 'freelancer' is lived, through freelancers' complex yet partial definitions that embrace flexibility and constraint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of preoperative carotid body tumor embolization (CBTE) on the amount of bleeding, and vascular and neurological complications in carotid body tumors., Methods: Fifty patients treated for 51 carotid body tumors in 2 clinics, between 2005 and 2020, were evaluated. Polyvinyl alcohol embolization of the carotid body tumor was performed in 23 patients before the surgical excision. The results were compared with the remaining 28 patients, in whom CBTE was not performed, in terms of neurological complications, requirement of additional vascular interventions, bleeding amount, and length of hospital stay., Results: Mean bleeding amount was significantly lower in the CBTE group (406-217 mL, P < 0.05). Median erythrocyte suspension transfusion was significantly lower in the CBTE group (0.3 units vs. 1.1 units, P < 0.05). Neurological deficits developed in a total of 13 patients: 6 in the CBTE group and 7 in the non-CBTE group, in the early postoperative period (P = 0.90). No significant difference was observed between the groups in terms of additional vascular interventions and length of hospital stay (P = 0.79 and P = 0.61)., Conclusions: Carotid body tumors are rarely encountered tumors. However, their surgical excision is challenging for surgeons regarding intraoperative and postoperative bleeding. This study demonstrates that preoperative CBTE significantly reduces the amount of bleeding, especially in Shamblin type II/III tumors., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The most widely used commodity polymers in the rigid packaging industry are polypropylene (PP) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE). For example, blow molding grade of HDPE as a bottle and injection molding grade of PP as a cap are often used to produce detergent bottles. Therefore, the recycled HDPE bottles from post-consumer waste include PP as a contaminant originated from PP bottle caps. To simulate mechanical recycling of bottle waste, the mechanical properties of HDPE-rich-HDPE/PP virgin model blend were studied. For compatibilization, ethylene-based olefin block copolymer, propylene-based olefin block copolymer, ethylene propylene random copolymer, and styrene-butadiene-styrene triblock copolymer were chosen as potential compatibilizer candidates. Contact angle measurements, morphological analysis, adhesion tests of compatibilizer candidates to polymer blend components and the tensile as well as tensile impact properties of the ternary blends were studied. It was found that the ethylene-based olefin block copolymer was the most effective compatibilizer resulting in a return of mechanical properties to those of neat vHDPE due to its ability to encapsulate dispersed vPP particles in a vHDPE matrix (core-shell morphology) and the best adhesion to polymer blend components.

Plastic recycling strikes a balance between functional, mass producible products and environmental sustainability and is pegged by governments for rapid expansion. However, ambitious targets on recycled material adoption across new markets are at odds with the often heterogenous properties of contaminated regranulates. This study investigated polypropylene (PP) contamination in post-consumer low-density polyethylene (PE-LD) and mixed polyolefin (PO) regranulates. Calibration curves were constructed and PP content, its effect on mechanical properties and property recovery in compatibilised material assessed. FT-IR band ratios provided more reliable estimations of PP content than DSC melt enthalpy, which suffered considerable error for PP copolymers. PE-LD regranulates contained up to 7 wt.% PP contamination and were considerably more brittle than virgin PE-LD. Most mixed PO regranulates contained 45-95 wt.% PP and grew more brittle with increasing PP content. Compatibilisation with 5 wt.% ethylene-based olefin block copolymer resulted in PE-LD blends resembling virgin PE-LD and considerable improvements in the properties of mixed PO blends. These results illustrate the prevalence of PP in recycled PE, challenges associated with its quantification, effect on mechanical properties, and compatibilisation viability, thereby representing an important step towards higher quality regranulates to meet the recycling demands of tomorrow.

Objective: Since the systemic drugs have been used to reduce the hyperplasic response in the tunica intima, the periadventitial local drug applications to the vascular wall have gained more popularity. In this study, we investigated the effect of bovine serum albumin-glutaraldehyde and polyethylene glycol polymer on neointimal hyperplasia in rabbit carotid artery anastomosis to explore the effects of these two different agents., Methods: 21 New Zealand male rabbits were randomly divided into three groups. The carotid artery transection and anastomosis was performed onthe control group. The bovine serum albumin-glutaraldehyde and the polyethylene glycol polymer were applied locally on the other two groups seperatley after transection and anastomosis of the carotid arteries. At the end of 28-day follow-up, the histological and the immunohistochemical results related to neointimal hyperplasia were compared., Results: The glue residues were detected in the BSA-glutaraldehyde group, but in the PEG polymer group there was no glue residue. The intima thickness and the intima/media thickness ratio in the control group was significantly higher (p<0.05) than the other groups. These values did not differ significantly between the BSA-glutaraldehyde group and the PEG polymer group (p>0.05). The lumen diameter and the area in the control group were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than the BSA-glutaraldehyde group. These values between the control group and the PEG polymer group did not differ significantly (p>0.05). aSMA-positive staining score in the Control group was found to be significantly lower (p < 0.05) than the BSA-glutaraldehyde and PEG polymer group and the VEGF-positive staining score in the control group was found to be significantly higher (p < 0.05) than the BSA-glutaraldehyde and the PEG polymer group., Conclusions: Although the both agents have positive results on neointimal hyperplasia, it would be favorable to use polyethylene glycol polymer, since it does not seem to affect the lumen area and the lumen diameter of the vessel.

Polypropylene (PP) and Polyethylene (PE) are widely used commodity plastics in packaging industry such as detergent bottles. To produce plastic detergent bottles, very often extrusion blown molded PE-HD as a body and injection molded PP as a screw cap are used. Separation of individual polymer type is difficult due to the similar density. Unfortunately, the melt blending of recycled post-consumer detergent bottle waste leads to deterioration of mechanical properties. Additionally, the percentage of rPP contamination in recycled PE-HD (rPE-HD) from post-consumer bottle waste can be varied depending on local waste composition and different sorting quality. This work investigates the effect of various contamination scenarios with different percentage of rPP from bottle caps in rPE-HD from bottle waste as well as their compatibilization with olefin block copolymer (OBC) on mechanical, thermal, and rheological properties. Moreover, the low temperature tensile properties of blends with OBC are also investigated in this study. The results showed that the increasing rPP contamination leads to deteriorating elongation at break and tensile impact strength. Furthermore, the addition of OBC as a compatibilizer into worse-case contamination scenario (15 wt% rPP in rPE-HD) significantly improved elongation at break and tensile impact strength. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirms the improvement in adhesion between rPP and rPE-HD from recycled bottle waste with the addition of OBC as a compatibilizer. Rheological measurements reveal the interfacial interaction among rPP, rPE-HD and OBC. The low temperature tensile test demonstrated that the addition of OBC as a compatibilizer improved low temperature tensile elongation at break., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Left sinus of Valsalva aneurysm (SVA) is a very infrequent clinical entity. Valsalva aneurysms are often asymptomatic in right and non-coronary sinuses and the diagnosis is often incidental. A left SVA which presents with exertional chest pain due to compression of left coronary system arteries is extremely rare. In this case, we present a successful surgical repair of left SVA without aortic regurgitation or myocardial infarction in a 59-year-old male patient.

Objective: Treatment of acute diseases of the aorta is still associated with high mortality and morbidity. It is believed that interventions for these diseases on overtime hours (night shifts or weekend shifts) may increase mortality. In this study, we investigated the effect of performing acute type A aortic dissection surgery on overtime hours in terms of postoperative outcomes., Methods: 206 patients who underwent emergency surgery for acute type A aortic dissection were retrospectively evaluated. Two groups were constituted: patients operated on daytime working hours (n=61), and patients operated on overtime hours (n=145), respectively., Results: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and repeat surgery were higher in group 1. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of operative and postoperative results. Mortality rates and postoperative neurological complications in group 1 were 9.8% and 13.1%, respectively. In group 2, these rates were 13.8% and 12.4%, respectively (P=0.485 - P=0.890). Multivariate analysis identified that cross-clamp time, amount of postoperative drainage, preoperative loss of consciousness and postoperative neurological complications are the independent predictors of mortality., Conclusions: As the surgical experience of the clinics improves, treatment of acute type A aortic dissections can be successfully performed both overtime and daytime working hours.

The use of the polypropylene (PP) recyclates in certain processing methods and applications is still limited by their quality. The high melt flow rate (MFR) and the inconsistent properties of recyclates are common obstacles to their use. Therefore, this work aims to identify possible reasons for the low and inconsistent quality of PP recyclates depending on the source material in PP waste bales. The levels of polymeric and non-polymeric contaminants were assessed. As mixing of different PP grades is an issue for the MFR, the proportions of the different processing grades were also investigated and the potential of sorting by processing method to produce lower MFR recyclates was assessed. The analysis showed that the waste bales, although pre-sorted, still contained high amounts of contaminants. Injection moulding was found to be the predominant processing method in the bales, explaining the high MFR of PP recyclates. However, a sufficiently high amount of low MFR products was found in the bales, which seems promising for the production of low MFR recyclates. Seasonal variations in the composition of the waste bales were identified as one of the reasons for the inconsistent qualities of recyclates. These results highlight the importance of proper sorting and treatment of PP waste bales prior to reprocessing in order to obtain high-quality recycled products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhancing interfacial adhesion in polypropylene (PP)/recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) blends is crucial for the effective mechanical recycling of these commercial plastic wastes. This study investigates the reactive extrusion of PP/rPET blends using a dual compatibilizer system comprising maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (PP-g-MA) and various glycidyl methacrylate (GMA)-based compatibilizers. The effects of backbone structure and reactive group on the morphological, mechanical, and thermal characteristics were systematically studied. This study sheds light on the effective compatibilization mechanisms using characterization methods such as Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and morphological analyses (SEM). The results indicate that GMA-based compatibilizers play a bridging role between rPET and PP-g-MA, resulting in improved compatibility between the blend components. A combination of 3 phr PP-g-MA and 3 phr ethylene-methyl acrylate glycidyl methacrylate terpolymer (EMA-GMA) significantly improves interfacial adhesion, leading to synergistic enhancements of mechanical performance of the blend, up to 217% and 116% increases in elongation at break and impact strength, respectively, compared to the uncompatibilized sample. Moreover, a significant improvement in onset temperature for degradation is observed for the dual compatibilized sample, with 40 °C and 33 °C increases in onset temperature relative to the uncompatibilized and the single compatibilized samples. These findings underscore the immense potential of tailored multi-component compatibilizer systems for upgrading recycled plastic waste materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of preoperative embolization on carotid body tumor resection. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were screened for studies published between 2010 and 2022. Primary outcomes investigated were intraoperative blood loss, operative time, length of hospital stay, and perioperative complications such as transient ischemic attack (TIA)/stroke, vascular injury, and cranial nerve injury (CNI). A random effects model was used in cases where study heterogeneity was high. Overall, 25 studies were included in the systematic review, involving 1649 patients: 23 studies were eligible for meta-analysis. The incidence of vascular injury was significantly less in the preoperative embolization group (odds ratio (OR) = 0.60; 95% CI: 0.42–0.84; P =.003). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups regarding intraoperative blood loss, operative time, length of hospital stay, incidence of TIA/stroke, and CNI. Subgroup analyses did not demonstrate significant difference between Shamblin I, II, and III subgroups regarding operative time. This meta-analysis found preoperative embolization to be significantly beneficial in reducing incidence of vascular injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Apoptosis is thought to be induced by chemotherapy in cancer patients. Therefore, the measurement of its amplitude may be a useful tool to predict the effectiveness of cancer treatment sooner than conventional methods do., Patients and Methods: In the study presented, apoptosis was assessed with an ELISA-based assay in which caspase-cleaved cytokeratin 18 (M30-antigen), a novel specific biomarker of apoptosis, is measured. Thirty seven patients with malignant (nonmetastatic and metastatic) breast cancer, 35 patients with benign breast disease, and 34 healthy subjects were studied. Cancer patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy consisting of either fluorouracil, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide (FEC) or epirubicin plus docetaxel (ED). Apoptosis was detected before chemotherapy, 24 and 48 h after chemotherapy in the malignant group., Results: It was found that the baseline apoptosis level in either malignant but nonmetastatic group or benign group was not statistically different from that in the control group (p>0.05). However, it was statistically significantly higher in the metastatic group than that in the control group (p<0.05). Following the drug application, M30-antigen levels significantly increased at 24 h (p<0.05). The baseline M30-antigen levels increased about 3-times in patients showing tumor regression., Conclusions: M30-antigen level is increased after chemotherapy and its measurement may help clinicians to predict the effectiveness of chemotherapy sooner in breast cancer cases although confirmative larger trials are needed.

Additives, such as antioxidants (AOs), carbon black (CB) and compatibilizers (COs), are used in recycled polymer blends for different reasons. AOs slow thermal degradation, CB gives blends a black color and protect them against ultraviolet (UV) light, and compatibilizers improve compatibility between the different phases of the mixture and consequently enhance the mechanical properties of the final blend. In this paper, the three additives were added to recycled polyethylene (PE) blends to study their effect on the final properties and to determine the best formulations that help improve the mechanical properties of recycled PE blends. Stress Crack Resistance (SCR) was accessed by performing Notched Crack Ligament Stress (NCLS) and Un-notched Crack Ligament Stress (UCLS). On the other hand, Oxidative Induction Time (OIT) was used to determine the oxidation time of the blends and the effect of each additive on this property. Based on the results of this study, it was proven that adding carbon black and antioxidants delay the thermal degradation of recycled PE blends and consequently improve the OIT. Otherwise, resistance to stress cracking is improved only by adding a compatibilizer to the reference blend. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Carotid body tumors are rare neoplasms with malignant potential. We aim to follow up on our initial experience published in 2015 and compare the occurrence of complications and postoperative outcomes with the use of retrocarotid dissection (RCD) against the standard caudocranial (SCCD) technique. Methods: This was an observational, case–control study in which we analyzed all of the carotid body tumor resections performed from 1986 to 2022. Parametric and nonparametric tests were used accordingly. Statistical analysis was performed on Stata 17. Results: A total of 181 surgical procedures were included, mean age was 56 years (± 13.63), and 168 (93%) were performed in women. The mean medio-lateral diameter was larger in the RCD group (2.85 ± 1.57 cm vs 1.93 ±1.85 cm; p = 0.002) and presurgical embolization was more frequently performed in the SCCD group (27.5% vs 0.7%; p < 0.001). A total of 40 (22.09%) resections were performed using the SCCD technique. In contrast, in 141 (77.91%) procedures the RCD technique was used. The mean surgical time in the RCD group was lower (197.37 ± 70.56 min vs 232 ± 98.34 min; p = 0.01). No statistically significant difference was found between SCCD and RCD in terms of vascular lesions (n = 20 [11.04%], 15% vs 9%, respectively; p = 0.36), transient or permanent nerve injuries (25% vs 33%, respectively; p = 0.31), or mean intraoperative bleeding (SCCD: 689.95 ± 680.05 mL vs RCD: 619.64 ± 837.94 mL; p > 0.05). Conclusions: RCD appears to be a safe and equivalent alternative to the standard caudocranial approach in terms of intraoperative bleeding or vascular lesions, with a sustained, significant decrease in surgical time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work investigated the photostabilizing role of a commercially available few-layer graphene (FLG) in mixed polyolefins waste stream (MPWS), ensuring extended lifespan for outdoor applications. The investigation was conducted by analyzing carbonyl content increase, surface appearance, and the retention of mechanical properties of UV-exposed MPWS/FLG composites. Despite the likely predegraded condition of MPWS, approximately 60%, 70%, 80%, and 90% of the original ductility was retained in composites containing 1, 4, 7, and 10 wt.% FLG, respectively. Conversely, just 20% of the original ductility was retained in unfilled MPWS. Additionally, less crack density and lower carbonyl concentrations of the composites also highlighted the photoprotection effect of FLG. For prime polyolefin blends, only 0.5 wt.% or 1 wt.% FLG was sufficient to preserve the original surface finishing and protect the mechanical properties from photodegradation. Hence, it was observed that MPWS requires more FLG than prime polyolefin blends to get to comparable property retention. This could be attributed to the poor dispersion of FLG in MPWS and inevitable uncertainties such as the presence of impurities, pre-degradation, and polydispersity associated with MPWS. This study outlines a potential approach to revalorize MPWS that possess a minimal intrinsic value and would otherwise be destined for landfill disposal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid spread of freelancing as a form of employment requires the development of an optimal system of taxation of the self-employed population. When dealing with new types of commercial activities and the income received as a result of the implementation of such activities, the legislation often does not have time to adapt to new rapidly developing business areas. Moreover, legislative regulation often hinders the development of such areas and creates a lot of inconvenience for the subjects of their activities. This paper examines the level of satisfaction of freelancers with the new system of taxation and the tax rate for the self-employed workers in the Russian Federation. The issue is considered against the background of corresponding foreign practices. The research shows that most of the freelancers surveyed believe that the current tax rate is too high. Latter was introduced in 2021, under the special tax regime for the self-employed people. In order to avoid potential tax evasion, it is recommended to review the current approach to taxation and possibly reduce professional income tax. Also, one of the recommendations is to conduct regular tax audits, since the new taxation system for freelancers significantly reduces income tax, and unscrupulous entrepreneurs can take advantage of this by entering into a civil law contract with employees and losing the status of an employer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A common misconception about women landowners in Nepal is that they do not control the lands they own. In this paper, I focus on women landowners' land-title loans. What does women's accrual of monetary debt in exchange for titles tell us about women's control over land? And, what does women's land debt tell us about the gender of financialization in the context of agrarian change? Based on ten months of ethnographic research in Saptari, Nepal, I show that land use is shifting from cultivation to financial pledging, and that women routinely exercise control over their lands vis-à-vis their command over intergenerational care practices, a process that I term the 'indebtedness to care.' [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quantity of different plastics generated after consumption is an impact factor affecting the environment, and the lack of recycling generates solid waste. The purpose of this work is to incorporate high-density recycled polyethylene fibers (HDPE) for possible use as concrete reinforcement. Physical and mechanical properties from recycled fibers were analyzed, such as density, absorption, and stress resistance, as well as workability, air content, porosity, concrete compression, and flexural strength properties. Samples were prepared with a low fiber content of 0.2% and 0.4%, as a substitution for sand weight, and lengths of 10 and 30 mm. To study corrosion phenomena, the specimens were exposed to a saline environment containing 3% sodium chloride for 365 days, and the electrochemical techniques including half-cell potential (HCP), electrochemical noise (EN), linear polarization resistance (LPR), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were applied. The results showed a 4.8% increase in compressive strength with a low fiber percentage and short geometries, while flexural strength increased marginally by 2.3% with small quantities of HDPE fibers. All these factors contribute to greater material durability, less permeability, and crack control. A positive effect of fibers with short dimensions on the corrosion processes of a steel bar was observed, with the fibers acting as a physical barrier against the diffusion of chloride ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the impact of mobile phone radiation on blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability was investigated. A total of 21 New Zealand rabbits were used for the experiments, divided into three groups, each consisting of 7 rabbits. One group served as the control, while the other two were exposed to electromagnetic radiation at frequencies of 1800 MHz with a distance of 14.5 cm and 2100 MHz with a distance of 17 cm, maintaining a constant power intensity of 15 dBm, for a duration equivalent to the current average daily conversation time of 38 min. The exposure was conducted under non-thermal conditions, with RF radiation levels approximately ten times lower than normal values. Evans blue (EB) dye was used as a marker to assess BBB permeability. EB binds to plasma proteins, and its presence in brain tissue indicates a disruption in BBB integrity, allowing for a quantitative evaluation of radiation-induced permeability changes. Left and right brain tissue samples were analyzed using trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and phosphate-buffered solution (PBS) solutions to measure EB amounts at 620 nm via spectrophotometry. After the experiments, BBB tissue samples were collected from the right and left brains of all rabbits in the three groups and subjected to a series of medical procedures. Samples from Group 1 were compared with those from Group 2 and Group 3 using statistical methods to determine if there were any significant differences. As a result, it was found that there was no statistically significant difference in the BBB of rabbits exposed to 1800 MHz radiation, whereas there was a statistically significant difference at a 95% confidence level in the BBB of rabbits exposed to 2100 MHz radiation. A decrease in EB values was observed upon the arithmetic examination of the BBB., Competing Interests: Declarations Ethical approval We obtained ethical approval for this study from the Animal Experiment Local Ethics Committee at Van Yüzüncü Yıl University (VAN YÜHADYEK) by approval no:2021/01–08. The study was conducted in accordance with the ethical guidelines and standards for the use of animals in scientific research. Conflict of interest The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. International Federation for Medical and Biological Engineering.)

The waste of polymeric materials in our society is increasing year after year, generating a serious pollution problem. One way to deal with this waste problem is to recycle and reuse these materials. This process of recovery of used plastic materials aims to minimise their impact on the environment and reduce the energy consumption required for the generation of new consumer products. Recycling companies that recover these plastic materials must take into account some aspects such as transparency and colour, cleanliness, size, odour and sorting. One of the major disadvantages in accepting these recycled materials in the production processes is their odour, which in some cases causes the rejection of materials with comparable mechanical characteristics. High-density polyethylene, HDPE, is one of the polymeric wastes generated in the packaging industry. The aim of this work is to eliminate the bad odour of HDPE from waste collection plants for application in the recovery and reuse industry. HDPE supplied by a recycling company was washed, characterised and processed, and the odour was analysed by gas chromatography at each stage and by olfactory panel. In view of the results, it was observed that the washing processes managed to reduce the odour. Likewise, the processing of this waste by extrusion and injection managed to further reduce this effect, even eliminating some of the components responsible for odour by treating the samples with acetone and then extruding and injecting these samples. These results have a direct application in the packaging industry with significant shares of recycled material., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background Sinus of Valsalva aneurysm (SVA) is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition. Acute myocardial infarction (MI) is a rare consequence of aneurysmal dilatation of one or more sinuses of Valsalva. We present a case of an unruptured and partially thrombosed left SVA, presenting as anterior MI and congestive heart failure. Case summary A 55-year-old gentleman was admitted with pulmonary oedema and a late presenting ST-elevation MI with Q wave. After initial treatment on furosemide infusion, a coronary angiography showed significant stenosis in both his left main stem (LMS) and left anterior descending artery (LAD). This is likely a result of external compression, potentially from the enlarged left sinus of Valsalva. A subsequent transthoracic echocardiogram and transoesophageal echocardiogram (TOE) confirmed large SVA involving the left coronary cusp measured 9.9 cm compressing both LMS and LAD. Discussion Left SVAs are rare and frequently asymptomatic, typically being identified incidentally. Due to the close proximity of the left coronary system, they can present with myocardial ischaemia due to extrinsic compression of the coronary system. We were able to perform a comprehensive multi-modality assessment of left SVA, which helped establish this unusual diagnosis and guide management. Transthoracic echocardiogram and TOE helped assess the SVA and demonstrated the thrombus in situ , aortic valve insufficiency, and cardiac function. The computed tomography scan aided in accurately defining the extent of the aneurysm and the extent of compression of the left coronary system and cardiac magnetic resonance scan was able to demonstrate viability in LAD and circumflex territory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing presence of for-profit service providers in publicly-funded eldercare has transformed care in Nordic welfare states which have a strong tradition of public care provision. Macro-level research on care policies has mainly focused on public institutions, national policies, and marketization. The financialization of eldercare has not received much scholarly attention, and existing studies mostly focus on the UK. The financialization of eldercare refers to the ways in which care is both a site of profit extraction and financial engineering. The Nordic system is relatively universal, and, with rapidly ageing demographics, there is a secured demand for eldercare services. However, these services have been heavily marketized over the past two decades, opening up lucrative possibilities for financialized actors who have established a stronghold over the markets. We analyse these processes through selected empirical examples from Finland, and argue that the financialization of eldercare in the Nordic context demands attention as we are witnessing a new configuration between the constitutional order of the welfare state, public finances, and private profit which is neither transparent, nor democratic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), particularly iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs), are a fascinating group of nanoparticles that have been considerably investigated for biomedical applications because of their superparamagnetic properties, biodegradable nature, and biocompatibility. A novel Gram-positive moderately thermophilic bacterial strain, namely Bacillus tequilensis ASFS.1, was isolated and identified. This strain is capable of producing superparamagnetic Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles and exhibiting magnetotaxis behavior. This strain swimming behavior was investigated under static and dynamic environments, where it behaved very much similar to the magnetotaxis in magnetotactic bacteria. This study is the first report of a bacterium from the Bacillaceae family that has the potential to intracellular biosynthesis of IONPs. MNPs were separated by a magnetic and reproducible method which was designed for the first time for this study. In addition, UV-visible spectrophotometer, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, vibrating sample magnetometer, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffraction, and thermal gravimetric analysis were utilized to characterize the bio-fabricated magnetite nanoparticles. Analysis of the particle size distribution pattern of the biogenic MNPs by FESEM imaging revealed the size range of 10-100 nm with the size range of 10-40 nm MNPs being the most frequent particles. VSM analysis demonstrated that biogenic MNPs displayed superparamagnetic properties with a high saturation magnetization value of 184 emu/g. After 24 h treatment of 3T3, U87, A549, MCF-7, and HT-29 cell lines with the biogenic MNPs, IC 50 values were measured to be 339, 641, 582, 149, and 184 μg mL -1 , respectively. This study presents the novel strain ASFS.1 capable of magnetotaxis by the aid of its magnetite nanoparticles and paving information on isolation, characterization, and in vitro cytotoxicity of its MNPs. The MNPs showed promising potential for biomedical applications, obviously subject to additional studies., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Seedlessness is one of the highest valued agronomic traits in grapes. Embryo rescue in combination with marker-assisted selection have been widely applied in seedless grape breeding due to the advantages of increasing the ratio of seedless progenies and shortening the breeding cycle. However, the large number of deformed seedlings produced during embryo rescue and the lack of fast, efficient, and low-cost markers severely inhibit the process of seedless grape breeding. In this study, a total of eighty-three grape cultivars (51 seedless and 32 seeded) with diverse genetic backgrounds and two populations derived from embryo rescue, including 113 F1 hybrid individuals (60 seedless and 53 seeded), were utilized. We screened suitable media for converting malformed seedlings into normal seedlings, analyzed the association between the SNP in VviAGL11 and seeded/seedless phenotype, and developed a KASP marker related to stenospermocarpic seedlessness. Our results indicated that the transformation rate of 37.8% was obtained with MS medium supplemented with 2.0 mg·L−1 of 6-BA and 0.5 mg·L−1 of IBA. The presence of an A nucleotide allele at position chr18:26889437 was further confirmed to be fully associated with the stenospermocarpic seedlessness phenotype. The developed KASP marker, based on the verified SNP locus in VviAGL11, successfully distinguished the seedless and seeded genotypes with high precision and throughput. The results will contribute to enhancing the efficiency of embryo rescue and facilitate parent selection and early selection of seedless offspring with molecular markers, thereby accelerating the breeding process in seedless table grapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyethylene (PE)-based elastomers are the ideal choice for enhancing the compatibility of polypropylene/polyethylene (PP/PE) blends and improving the mechanical properties of PP-based materials. However, the issue of blend systems lies in the interplay between the crystallization processes. Therefore, we investigated the crystallization behavior during the cooling process of a new generation of PP/PE block copolymers (PP-b-PE) and random polypropylene (PPR, a copolymer of propylene and a small amount of ethylene or an alpha-olefin) blends using in-situ X-ray diffraction/scattering and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) techniques. We also conducted mechanical performance tests on PPR/PP-b-PE blends at room temperature and low temperature (−5 °C). The results indicate that during the cooling process, the PP phase of PP-b-PE will follow the PPR to crystallize in advance and form a eutectic mixture, thereby enhancing the compatibility of PP/PE. Moreover, the PPR/PP-b-PE blend will form stable β-(300) crystals with excellent mechanical properties. Due to the improved compatibility of PP/PE with PP-b-PE, PE crystals are dispersed within PP crystals, providing bonding that improves the toughness of PPR under the low stiffness failure conditions of PPR/PP-b-PE blends, thereby enhancing their impact performance at low and room temperatures. This research has great significance for both recycling waste plastics and enhancing the low-temperature toughness of PPR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), the oxidized form of trimethylamine (TMA), was previously thought to be a waste product but is now considered an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and its comorbidities. Foods or supplements containing choline and carnitine are major precursors of TMA in the diet and are metabolized by gut microbiota. Trimethylamine N-oxide is produced through the oxidation of this compound by flavin-containing monooxygenase (FMO) in the liver. The organ responsible for the removal of TMAO from body fluids is the kidneys. Therefore, plasma TMAO levels are influenced by multiple complex factors, especially the amount of TMA precursors and dietary TMAO sources in the diet, the dominant genera in the gut microbiota, FMO3 enzyme activity, and kidney functions. Among these, the quantity of TMAO and its precursors in the diet and microbiota can be considered modifiable risk factors. However, discussions continue regarding how plasma TMAO levels reach pathological levels and their role (consequence or cause) in CVD. This review presents the current scientific evidence on the relationship and underlying mechanisms between CVD and TMAO and provides an overview of the association of plasma TMAO levels with modifiable risk factors, such as dietary TMAO precursors, dietary TMAO sources, and microbiota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vertical handovers (VH) is said to be a significant effect of user mobility in a diverse wireless network as it causes a major effect on network performances, like call blocking probability, packet delay, or throughput. On the other hand, the analysis of VH meets a lot of complexities when it comes to investigation, including network modeling that was very complex owing to the diversity in topology. This article aims to present a VH method by means of graph theory. At first, the improved k-partite graph is exploited to model the VH issues in HetNets. Second, improved Dijkstra's algorithm (DA) is deployed for choosing the best path. Further, the analytic hierarchy process is used for estimating the adaptive weights among nodes. Accordingly, optimal selection of weights in DA is performed depending on a hybridized model named as grey wolf upgraded CSO. Ultimately, several metrics such as throughput, packet jitter, and delay and packet losses indicate that the created strategy is efficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides evidence and discusses the variability in the thermomechanical behaviour of virgin and recycled polypropylene/high-density polyethylene blends without the addition of other components, which is sparse in the literature. Understanding the performance variability in recycled polymer blends is of critical importance in order to facilitate the re-entering of recycled materials to the consumer market and, thus, contribute towards a circular economy. This is an area that requires further research due to the inhomogeneity of recycled materials. Therefore, the thermal and mechanical properties of virgin and recycled polypropylene/high-density polyethylene blends were investigated systematically. Differential scanning calorimetry concludes that both the recycled and virgin blends are immiscible. Generally, recycled blends have lower overall crystallinity and melting temperatures compared with virgin blends while, remarkably, their crystallisation temperatures are compared favourably. Dynamical mechanical analysis showed little variation in the storage modulus of recycled and virgin blends. However, the alpha and beta relaxation temperatures are lower in recycled blends due to structural deterioration. Deterioration in the thermal and mechanical properties of recycled blends is thought to be caused by the presence of contaminants and structural degradation during reprocessing, resulting in shorter polymeric chains and the formation of imperfect crystallites. The tensile properties of recycled blends are also affected by the recycling process. The Young's modulus and yield strength of the recycled blends are inferior to those of virgin blends due to the deterioration during the recycling process. However, the elongation at break of the recycled blends is higher compared with the virgin blends, possibly due to the plasticity effect of the low-molecular-weight chain fragments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dielectric performance of post-consumer recycled HDPE blended with virgin HDPE was investigated to evaluate the possibility of using these materials for the insulation of electrical wires and cables. The presence of organic and inorganic impurities was investigated using thermal and chemical methods (TGA, DSC, and EDX). The characterization of impurities revealed different amount of inorganic impurities in recycled material that was depending on the execution of melt filtration by the recycler to prepare the recycled material. Higher values of both dielectric losses and dielectric constant were observed for postconsumer recycled PE, with the dielectric loss of recycled material almost 17 times higher than the one of virgin PE at power frequency (60 Hz). The short-term breakdown strength of post-consumer recycled HDPE was observed to be slightly lower than that of virgin PE. The experimental result showed that blending the recycled stream with virgin materials was effective in order to enhance dielectric properties of recycled material. In this regards, dielectric losses decreased by almost 50% when 50% of virgin HDPE was added to the recycled material. In addition, breakdown strength was improved when virgin HDPE was added. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To investigate the impact of preoperative embolization (p-TAE) on CBT surgical resection and explore the optimal tumor volume for p-TAE of CBT resection. Methods: This retrospective study reviewed 139 surgically excised CBTs. According to Shamblin classification, tumor volumes, and whether to carry out the p-TAE, the patients were classified into different groups. The demographic, clinical features, and the intraoperative and post-operative information about the patients were retrieved and analyzed from the patient records. Results: A total of 139 CBTs was excised in 130 patients. According to the results of subgroup analysis, there were no significant differences in surgical time, blood loss, adverse events (AEs), and the revascularization when compared with non-embolization group (NEG) for type I, II, III, respectively (all p > 0.05) except for the surgical time in type I (p < 0.05). Then the X-tile program was employed and determine the cutoff point (tumor volume = 6670 mm3) for tumor volumes and blood loss. The average tumor volume was (29,782.37 vs. 31,345.10 mm3, p = 0.65) for embolization group (EG) and NEG. The mean surgical time (208.86 vs. 264.67 min, p > 0.05) and intraoperative blood loss (252.78 vs. 430.00 mL, p < 0.05) were less, and the incidence of revascularization required (35.56 vs. 52.38%, p > 0.05) and total complications (27.78 vs. 57.14%, p < 0.05) were lower in EG when compared with NEG (tumor volume ≥ 6670 mm3). However, the results were not statistically significant when the tumor size was less than 6670 mm3. No surgery-related mortality was observed during the follow-up. Conclusions: Preoperative selective embolization of CBT is an effective and safe adjunct for surgical resection, especially for Shamblin class II and III tumors (≥ 6670 mm3). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To evaluate potential effects of whole-body 900 and 1800 MHz electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure on the rat spleen. Material and Methods: The study was conducted on 9 Sprague--Dawley rats. Pregnant rats were assigned into 3 groups: 900 MHz EMF-exposure, 1800 MHz EMF-exposure and controls. Results: Under light microscope, myeloid series cells, erythrocytes and megakaryocytes were observed in all groups. In the red pulp, dilated sinusoids were observed in both 900 and 1800 prenatal 24-hour groups with more prominent findings in the 1800 prenatal 24-hour group. Fused white pulps were apparent in 900 group while there was increase in the irregular white pulps (varying in size) with destruction in the1800 group. Biochemical evaluation showed that spleenmalondialdehyde level was higher while glutathione level waslower in the 900 MHz-exposure and 1800 MHz-exposuregroups compared to controls (p<0.05 for both). Conclusion: Based on our results, it was concluded that EMF exposure at prenatal period led pathological changes in thespleenof pups. Again, it was revealed that it led oxidative stress through enhanced lipid oxidation and altered antioxidant defense systems. We also demonstrated that these effects were more evident as the level of EMF was increased from 900 MHz to 1800 MHz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the world is paying attention to the seriousness of environmental pollution, the need for a resource circulation economy is emerging due to the development of eco-friendly industrial groups. In particular, the recycling of thermoplastic elastomers without cross-link has been highlighted in the plastics field, which has rapidly developed the industry. Growing interests have been directed towards the advancement of thermoplastic polyether–ester elastomer (TPEE) as a material suitable for the circular economy owing to its remarkable recyclability, both in terms of mechanical and chemical processes. Due to its excellent processability, simple mechanical recycling is easy, which is a driving force towards achieving price competitiveness in the process. In molding TPEE resin, it is essential to check the thermal properties of the resin itself because the thermal properties, including the melting and crystallization temperatures of the resin, depend on the design of the polymer. In this study, the thermal and mechanical performances of TPEE blends were evaluated by manufacturing compounds by changing the amount of recycled resin and additives. When the recycled resin was added, the melt flow index (MFI) changed rapidly as the temperature of the melt flow index measurement increased. Rapid changes in MFI make the fiber spinning process uncontrollable and must be controlled by optimizing the addition of compatibilizers. Based on the thermal property results, compatibilizers such as Lotader and Elvaloy series exhibited minimal change in glass transition temperature, even with greater amounts added. This makes them well-suited as compatibilizers for fiber spinning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cell plastics which are composed of unicellular green algal cells have been proposed in previous studies. While unicellular green algae can be freely arranged using fabrication processes, a matrix is required to attach the cells together. To date, although the cell contents collected from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii show the possibility of attaching cells, but it is unclear which components can be considered attachment factors. Therefore, in this study, C. reinhardtii cells were disrupted with sonication, and the components were separated and purified with hexane. The cell plastics with only 0.5 wt% of intermediate showed similar mechanical properties to those with 17 wt% and 25 wt% of cell components that were untreated with hexane, meaning that the purified intermediates could function as matrices. The purified intermediate was composed of approximately 60 wt% of protein as the main component, and proteomic analysis was performed to survey the main proteins that remained after hexane treatment. The protein compositions of the cell content and purified intermediate were compared via proteomic analysis, revealing that the existing ratios of 532 proteins were increased in the purified intermediate rather than in the cell content. In particular, the outer structure of each of the 49 proteins—the intensity of which was increased by over 10 times—had characteristically random coil conformations, containing ratios of proline and alanine. The information could suggest a matrix of cell plastics, inspiring the possibility to endow the cell plastics with more properties and functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, eight cultivars, all of which are Vitis vinifera L., are grown in Aksaray province were determined. Identification material was selected approximately 20 years old, own roots vines in the producer vineyards. Ampelographic characteristics are defined by 123 descriptive characters in the OIV (The International Organization of Vine and Wine) list of grape and grapevine rootstock varieties identification criteria. With the numerical codes of the OIV identification criteria, similarity analysis was made in the IBM SPSS Statistics software (SPSS) package program, and the similarity relationships of the cultivars were visualized with a dendrogram. Aşeri and Mor Üzüm varieties defined in Aksaray province are not registered in the European Catalogue, but all varieties are Vitis vinifera L. Subsp. vinifera is registered as Turkey varieties. All the cultivar excluding Aşeri, and Emir names defined here are included in the Turkey grapevine genetic resources list, and several cultivars containing the same name or synonyms have been defined in different studies. The ampelographic descriptions of Aşeri and Emir grape varieties were made for the first time. The ampelographic definitions of Ak Dimrit, Çavuş, Kalecik Karası, Mor Üzüm, Parmak Üzümü and Sergi Karası cvs were confirmed with previous descriptions made in different provinces. The similarities and differences of the varieties we identified were reflected in the similarity dendrogram. Six of the eight grape varieties are hermaphrodite, and two of them (Çavuş and Sergi Karası) are functional female flowers. In the international variety catalogue records, the most common Aksaray variety on a global scale is Çavuş variety originating from Turkey. The cv. Parmak Üzümü was a separate ecotype due to its differences from previous identification records. It would be appropriate to protect the Aşeri, Emir, and Parmak Üzümü varieties, which we described for the first time, in the grapevine genetic resources of Turkey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we have reported use of anthocyanin capped gold nanoparticles (Ant@Au NPs)‐incorporated colorimetric urease test for rapid, sensitive and economic detection of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). This test containing Ant@Au NPs, urea, sodium phosphate buffer (PBS) and sodium azide (NaN3) was prepared at pH 5 with red solution owing to dispersity of Ant@Au NPs, urease enzyme secreted from H. pylori cause production of ammonia (NH3) via hydrolysis of urea, then which makes reaction environment alkaline (pH 8.2). The limit of detection for this Ant@Au NPs based urease test was determined to be to 102 CFU/mL with proportional to increasing incubation time. However, distinct color change was observed with 104 CFU/mL H. pylori suspensions in 15 min. The anthocyanin molecules existing on surface of Ant@Au NPs were easily deprotonated from hydroxyl groups in the alkaline condition, which caused various changes on Ant@Au NPs including quite much negative charges on the surface of Ant@Au NPs analyzed by Zeta potential, aggregation of Ant@Au NPs demonstrated by STEM, DLS and spectrophotometer, and turning the color of test solution to purple evaluated by a naked eye and digital process imaging system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food safety has received considerable attention in recent years. Methods for rapid identification of a variety contaminants in both the final product and the manufacturing process are constantly developing. This study used Fourier Transform Mid-Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-MIR) spectroscopy to identify various contaminants endangering white sugar production. It was demonstrated that inorganic compounds (calcium carbonate—CaCO3), plastic contaminants (polypropylene), and oily contaminants (compressor sealing and lubrication lubricant) can be identified with a high degree of precision. FT-MIR spectroscopy was proved to be a useful technique for detecting sugar contaminants rapidly and precisely even without the application of a sophisticated spectra analysis. Commercial databases of reference spectra usage significantly simplify and facilitate the application of this method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]