Kinematics of Cataclysmic Variables in the Solar Neighborhood in the Gaia Era

Using high-precision astrometric data from Gaia DR3 and updated systemic velocities from the literature, the kinematical properties of cataclysmic variables (CVs) were investigated. By constraining the data according to the total space velocity error and Galactic population class, a reliable sample of data was obtained. Nonmagnetic CVs located in the thin disk have been found to have a total space velocity dispersion of sigma(nu) = 46.33 +/- 4.23 km s(-1), indicating that the thin disk CVs with a mean kinematical age of tau = 3.95 +/- 0.75 Gyr are much younger than the local thin disk of the Galaxy with tau similar to 6-9 Gyr. Total space velocity dispersions of nonmagnetic CVs belonging to the thin disk component of the Galaxy were found to be sigma(nu) = 47.67 +/- 3.94 and sigma(nu) = 44.43 +/- 4.33 km s(-1) for the systems below and above the orbital period gap, respectively, corresponding to kinematical ages of tau = 4.19 +/- 0.71 and tau = 3.61 +/- 0.74 Gyr. gamma velocity dispersions of the thin disk CVs below and above the gap were obtained sigma(gamma) = 27.52 +/- 2.28 and sigma(gamma) = 25.65 +/- 2.44 km s(-1), respectively. This study also shows that the orbital period is decreasing with increasing age, as expected from the standard theory. The age-orbital period relation for nonmagnetic thin disk CVs was obtained as dP/dt = -2.09(+/- 0.22) x 10(-5) s yr(-1). However, a significant difference could not be found between the gamma velocity dispersions of the systems below and above the gap, which were calculated to be sigma(gamma) = 27.52 +/- 2.28 and sigma(gamma) = 25.65 +/- 2.44 km s(-1), respectively.Scientific and Technological Research Council (TUBIdot;TAK) [119F072]; Istanbul University [NAP-33768]The authors thank the anonymous referee for his/her helpful comments that improved the quality of the manuscript. This study has partly been supported by the Scientific and Technological Research Council (TUB & Idot;TAK) 119F072. This work has been supported in part by Istanbul University: project number NAP-33768. This study is a part of the PhD thesis of Remziye Canbay. This research made use of NASA's (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) Astrophysics Data System and the SIMBAD Astronomical Database, operated at CDS, Strasbourg, France, and the NASA/IPAC Infrared Science Archive, which is operated by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. This study used data from the European Space Agency (ESA) mission Gaia (https://www.cosmos.esa.int/gaia) and processed by the Gaia Data Processing and Analysis Consortium (DPAC, https://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/gaia/dpac/consortium). Funding for the DPAC was provided by national institutions, particularly institutions participating in the Gaia Multilateral Agreement

COVID-19 hastalarında genotoksik ve sitotoksik etkilerin değerlendirilmesi

Purpose: The objective of our study was to ascertain whether the SARS-CoV-2 virus exerts direct cytotoxic and genotoxic effects on human blood defence cells. Materials and Methods: An in vitro analysis was conducted to assess the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of the virus using three established tests: the mitotic index (MI), micronucleus (MN), and comet assay (CA). These tests were applied to blood samples from 101 patients. The blood samples were simultaneously analyzed using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. The study population included patients of all ages and genders who presented to the outpatient clinic with symptoms suggestive of a respiratory tract infection and fever. Results: The frequency of MN in the human lymphocytes of COVID-19-infected patients (1.06) was higher compared to COVID-19-negative patients (0.68). Similarly, in COVID-19-positive individuals, parameters such as tail length (3.67), tail moment (1.786), and tail intensity in the comet assay showed a significant increase compared to the negative control, indicating DNA damage. In the cytotoxicity assessment, the MI frequency of COVID-19-positive individuals (0.041) was significantly lower than that of negative controls (0.051). Gender did not influence the cyto/genotoxicity (except for tail length) in SARS-CoV-2-infected patients. Among age groups, the SARS-CoV-2 virus increased MI frequency and tail intensity only in middle-aged individuals (26-36 years). Conclusion: The SARS-CoV-2 virus has the potential to induce cytotoxic and genotoxic effects in the human lymphocytes of infected individuals.Amaç: Çalışmamızda COVID-19 virüsünün insan lenfositleri üzerindeki doğrudan sitotoksik ve genotoksik etkisinin olup olmadığının saptanması amaçlanmıştır. Gereç ve Yöntem:Virüsün sitotoksik/genotoksik etkileri 101 hastadan alınan kan örnekleri ile in vitro mitotik indeks (MI), Mikronükleus (MN) ve Comet Assay (SCGE) testleri kullanılarak değerlendirilmiştir. Hastalardan alınan kan örnekleri PCR testi ile eş zamanlı olarak analiz edilmiştir. Çalışmaya COVID-19 polikliniğine üst solunum yolu ve ateş şikayetleriyle başvuran her yaş grubundan ve cinsiyetten hastalar dahil edilmiştir. Bulgular: COVID-19 ile enfekte olmuş hastaların insan lenfositlerindeki MN sıklığı (1.06) COVID-19 negatif hastalara (0.68) kıyasla artmıştır. Benzer şekilde COVID-19 pozitif bireylerde komet testindeki kuyruk uzunluğu (3.67), kuyruk momenti (1.786) ve kuyruk yoğunluğu parametreleri negative kontrole kıyasla önemli ölçüde artış göstererek DNA hasarına neden olmuşlardır. Sitotoksisite değerlendirmesinde COVID-19 pozitif bireylerin MI frekansı (0.041) negatiflere (0.051) göre anlamlı derecede düşmüştür. Cinsiyet SARS-CoV-2 enfekte hastalarda sito/genotoksisiteyi (kuyruk uzunluğu hariç) etkilememiştir. Yaş gruplarında, SARS-CoV-2 virüsü MI sıklığını ve kuyruk yoğunluğunu yalnızca orta yaşta (26-36) artırmıştır. Sonuç: SARS-CoV-2 virüsü, COVID-19 ile enfekte hastalarda insan lenfositleri üzerinde sitotoksik ve genotoksik etkilere neden olabilir.Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit [TSA-2022-4076]This work was supported by Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit, Project number: TSA-2022-4076

Human Milk Oligosaccharides: Decoding Their Structural Variability, Health Benefits, and the Evolution of Infant Nutrition

This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), the third most abundant solid component in human milk, vary significantly among women due to factors such as secretor status, race, geography, season, maternal nutrition and weight, gestational age, and delivery method. In recent studies, HMOs have been shown to have a variety of functional roles in the development of infants. Because HMOs are not digested by infants, they act as metabolic substrates for certain bacteria, helping to establish the infant's gut microbiota. By encouraging the growth of advantageous intestinal bacteria, these sugars function as prebiotics and produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which are essential for gut health. HMOs can also specifically reduce harmful microbes and viruses binding to the gut epithelium, preventing illness. HMO addition to infant formula is safe and promotes healthy development, infection prevention, and microbiota. Current infant formulas frequently contain oligosaccharides (OSs) that differ structurally from those found in human milk, making it unlikely that they would reproduce the unique effects of HMOs. However, there is a growing trend in producing OSs resembling HMOs, but limited data make it unclear whether HMOs offer additional therapeutic benefits compared to non-human OSs. Better knowledge of how the human mammary gland synthesizes HMOs could direct the development of technologies that yield a broad variety of complex HMOs with OS compositions that closely mimic human milk. This review explores HMOs' complex nature and vital role in infant health, examining maternal variation in HMO composition and its contributing factors. It highlights recent technological advances enabling large-scale studies on HMO composition and its effects on infant health. Furthermore, HMOs' multifunctional roles in biological processes such as infection prevention, brain development, and gut microbiota and immune response regulation are investigated. The structural distinctions between HMOs and other mammalian OSs in infant formulas are discussed, with a focus on the trend toward producing more precise replicas of HMOs found in human milk

Türkiye Aksaray’da Nohut Yetiştirilen Dört Alanda Toprak Nematod Topluluklarının Analizi

This study investigates soil nematode communities in four distinct chickpea cultivation areas in Aksaray, Türkiye, to understand their composition, ecological functions, and impact on soil health. Chickpeas, as the nitrogen-fixing crop, play a vital role in sustainable agriculture, supporting soil health and providing economic benefits in rural areas. Soil nematodes, however, including plant-parasitic types like root-knot and lesion nematodes, pose risks to chickpea yield by damaging root systems, thus necessitating effective management strategies. The research took place from May to December 2023 at Düzce University’s Nematology Laboratory. Soil samples from four locations (Akgülü, Bağınbaşı, Camili and Göllü) in Aksaray were collected and using the Baermann funnel technique nematodes were exracted. Nematode identification and ecological parameter analyses used for nematode-based biological monitoring were conducted with light microscopy and structured taxonomic keys. The study grouped the nematodes based on feeding behaviors, showing distinct profiles across locations: bacterivores dominated in Akgülü, while Bağınbaşı had a higher prevalence of plant-parasitic nematodes, suggesting soil biodiversity challenges. Analysis of soil food webs indicated a stressed ecosystem in Akgülü and enriched, structured soil in Bağınbaşı, as shown by higher enrichment and structure index values. These patterns highlight the effects of soil management on nematode communities, with biodiversity directly linked to soil health and chickpea productivity. Findings emphasize that integrated pest management, including crop rotation and resistant chickpea varieties, is essential to mitigate the effects of nematodes. The study provides insights into nematode-driven soil dynamics and underscores the need for further research on nematode impacts in various agroecosystems, particularly for sustainable chickpea cultivation.Toprak nematod topluluklarının, kompozisyonları, ekolojik işlevleri ve toprak sağlığı üzerindeki etkileri araştırılmıştır. Nohut, azot bağlayıcı bir ürün olarak sürdürülebilir tarımda hayati rol oynamakta, toprak sağlığını desteklemekte ve kırsal alanlarda ekonomik faydalar sağlamaktadır. Ancak kök-ur ve lezyon nematodları gibi bitki paraziti türleri içeren toprak nematodları, kök sistemine zarar vererek nohut verimi için risk oluşturmakta ve bu nedenle etkili yönetim stratejilerini zorunlu kılmaktadır. Bu araştırmanın analizleri Mayıs-Aralık 2023 tarihlerinde Düzce Üniversitesi Nematoloji Laboratuvarında yürütülmüştür. Aksaray iline ait dört lokasyondan (Akgüüu, Bağınbaşı, Camili ve Göllü) toprak örnekleri toplanmış ve nematodları topraktan elde etmek için Baermann huni tekniği kullanılmıştır. Nematodların tanılanması ve ekolojik parametre analizleri, ışık mikroskobu ve yapılandırılmış bir taksonomik teşhis anahtarı kullanılarak gerçekleştirilmiştir. Çalışma, nematodları beslenme davranışlarına göre kategorize etmiş ve lokasyonlar arasında farklı profiller göstermiştir: Akgülü’de bakteriovor nematodlar baskınken, Bağınbaşı’nda bitki-parazit nematodların daha yüksek oranda bulunduğu ve bu durumun toprak biyoçeşitliliği açısından zorluklar oluşturabileceği görülmüştür. Toprak besin ağlarının analizi, Akgülü’de stres altında bir ekosistemi, Bağınbaşı’nda ise daha zengin ve yapısal olarak düzenlenmiş bir toprak yapısını göstermiştir; bu durum, daha yüksek zenginleşme ve yapı indeks değerleri ile ortaya konmuştur. Bu modeller, toprak yönetiminin nematod toplulukları üzerindeki etkilerini vurgulamakta ve biyoçeşitliliğin toprak sağlığı ve nohut verimliliği ile doğrudan bağlantılı olduğunu göstermektedir. Bulgular, nematodların etkilerini azaltmak için ürün rotasyonu ve dayanıklı nohut çeşitleri de dahil olmak üzere entegre zararlı yönetiminin gerekli olduğunu vurgulamaktadır. Çalışma, Aksaray ilindeki bazı nohut ekilmiş alanlardaki nematod kaynaklı toprak dinamikleri hakkında fikir vermekte ve özellikle sürdürülebilir nohut yetiştiriciliği için farklı agroekosistemlerde nematod etkileri üzerine daha fazla araştırma yapılması gerekliliğini vurgulamaktadır

Fucosidosis: A Review of a Rare Disease

This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).Fucosidosis is a rare lysosomal storage disease caused by alpha-L-fucosidase deficiency following a mutation in the FUCA1 gene. This enzyme is responsible for breaking down fucose-containing glycoproteins, glycolipids, and oligosaccharides within the lysosome. Mutations in FUCA1 result in either reduced enzyme activity or complete loss of function, leading to the accumulation of fucose-rich substrates in lysosomes. Lysosomes become engorged with undigested substrates, which leads to secondary storage defects affecting other metabolic pathways. The central nervous system is particularly vulnerable, with lysosomal dysfunction causing microglial activation, inflammation, and neuronal loss, leading to the neurodegenerative symptoms of fucosidosis. Neuroinflammation contributes to secondary damage, including neuronal apoptosis, axonal degeneration, and synaptic dysfunction, exacerbating the disease process. Chronic neuroinflammation impairs synaptic plasticity and neuronal survival, leading to progressive intellectual disability, learning difficulties, and loss of previously acquired skills. Inflammatory cytokines and lysosomal burden in motor neurons and associated pathways contribute to ataxia, spasticity, and hypotonia, which are common motor symptoms in fucosidosis. Elevated neuroinflammatory markers can increase neuronal excitability, leading to the frequent occurrence of epilepsy in affected individuals. So, fucosidosis is characterized by rapid mental and motor loss, along with growth retardation, coarse facial features, hepatosplenomegaly, telangiectasis or angiokeratomas, epilepsy, inguinal hernia, and dysostosis multiplex. Patients usually die at an early age. Treatment of fucosidosis is a great challenge, and there is currently no definitive effective treatment. Hematopoietic cell transplantation studies are ongoing in the treatment of fucosidosis. However, early diagnosis of this disease and treatment can be effective. In addition, the body's immune system decreases due to chemotherapy applied after transplantation, leaving the body vulnerable to microbes and infections, and the risk of death is high with this treatment. In another treatment method, gene therapy, the use of retroviral vectors, is promising due to their easy integration, high cell efficiency, and safety. In another treatment approach, enzyme replacement therapy, preclinical studies are ongoing for fucosidosis, but the blood-brain barrier is a major obstacle in lysosomal storage diseases affecting the central nervous system. Early diagnosis is important in fucosidosis, a rare disease, due to the delay in the diagnosis of patients identified so far and the rapid progression of the disease. In addition, enzyme replacement therapy, which carries fewer risks, is promising

Modified Dermal-Fat Flap Suspension Technique for Internal Nasal Valve Dysfunction: A Comparative Study With Conventional Cartilage Grafting

Iatrogenic internal nasal valve (INV) dysfunction is a significant complication after nasal surgery, often necessitating revision surgeries involving cartilage grafting, which carries high risks of complications such as mucosal synechiae, septal perforations, and chronic inflammation. This study evaluates the efficacy of a modified dermal-fat flap suspension technique as an alternative to conventional cartilage grafting for INV reconstruction. A retrospective review was conducted of 30 patients treated between March 2019 and March 2023, including 8 patients who underwent the modified dermal suspension technique and 22 who received spreader grafts. Preoperative and postoperative nasal obstruction symptom evaluation scores were statistically analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test. While both groups demonstrated significant postoperative improvements, no statistically significant differences were found between the groups. The modified technique, performed under local anesthesia, was associated with fewer complications and avoided extensive cartilage grafting or mucosal dissection, making it particularly suitable for patients with advanced age, high ASA scores, or complex surgical histories. Common complications included transient orbital edema and rare cases of skin discoloration, which resolved over time. Despite a small sample size and reliance on subjective nasal obstruction symptom evaluation scores, this study highlights the potential of the modified dermal-fat flap suspension technique as a less invasive, effective alternative for managing INV dysfunction, especially in high-risk patients. Further studies with larger cohorts and objective measures are needed to validate these findings. Copyright © 2025 by Mutaz B. Habal, MD

Effect of a project-based learning in education for ecological footprint awareness of pre-school students

Bu araştırmanın temel amacı; yaşamın en önemli becerilerinin kazanıldığı okul öncesi dönemde tükenir doğal kaynakların korunması için çocuklarda ekolojik ayak izi farkındalığının sağlanmasıdır. Tezde proje tabanlı öğrenme yaklaşımı ile desteklenen çalışmaların çocukların tutum ve davranışlarına olan etkisini incelemek hedeflenmiştir. Verilerin toplanmasında "Çocuklar İçin Ekolojik Ayak İzi Farkındalık Ölçeği (EKAY-Ö)" kullanılmıştır. Yarı deneysel desende yürütülen çalışmada ön- son test kontrol grupları yer almıştır. Araştırmanın çalışma grubu, daha önce çevre eğitimi almamış 48-66 aylık, 15'i deney grubu öğrencisi ve 15'i kontrol grubu öğrencisi olmak üzere 30 öğrenciden oluşmuştur. Proje tabanlı öğrenme yaklaşımıyla hazırlanmış ekolojik ayak izi eğitim programı deney grubu öğrencilerine uygulanmıştır. Yedi haftalık eğitim sonucunda deney ve kontrol grubu öğrencilerine son test uygulanmıştır. Elde edilen verilerin analizleri IBM SPSS V23 ile gerçekleştirilmiştir. Verilerin normallik dağılımları "Shapiro-Wilk Testi" ile değerlendirilmiştir. Normal dağılıma uymayan ölçek puanlarının ikili grup karşılaştırmalarında "Mann Whitney U Testi", normal dağılıma uymayan ve farklı zamanlarda ölçülen ölçek puanlarının karşılaştırılmasında "Wilcoxon Testi" kullanılmıştır. Yapılan deneysel çalışma sonunda iki grubun son testten aldıkları puanlar karşılaştırılmış ve sonucun deney grubu öğrencilerinin lehine olduğu saptanmıştır.The main purpose of this research is to raise ecological footprint awareness in children in order to protect exhaustible natural resources during the preschool period when the most important skills of life are acquired. It was aimed to examine the effects of activities supported by the project-based learning approach on children's attitudes and behaviors. The "Ecological Footprint Awareness Scale for Children (EKAY-Ö)" was used to collect data. The study, which was conducted in a quasi-experimental design, included pre- and post-test control groups. The study group consisted of 30 students, 15 in the experimental group and 15 in the control group, aged 48-66 months, who had not received environmental education before. The ecological footprint training program prepared with a project-based learning approach was applied to the experimental group students. At the end of the seven-week training, a post-test was applied to the experimental and control group students. The analysis of the obtained data was performed with IBM SPSS V23. The normality distribution of the data was evaluated with the "Shapiro-Wilk Test". The "Mann Whitney U Test" was used in pairwise group comparisons of scale scores that did not conform to a normal distribution, and the "Wilcoxon Test" was used in comparing scale scores that did not conform to a normal distribution and were measured at different times. At the end of the experimental study, the scores of the two groups from the post-test were compared and it was determined that the result was in favor of the experimental group students

A novel approach to glioblastoma multiforme treatment using modulation of key pathways by naturally occurring small molecules

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the fatal primary brain malignancy in adults, represents significant health challenges, and its eradication has been the ultimate goal of numerous medical investigations. GBM therapy encompasses various interventions, e.g., chemotherapy by synthetic cytotoxic agents like temozolomide (TMZ), radiotherapy, and, more recently, immunotherapy. A notable focus has been on incorporating naturally occurring substances in treating malignancies. Polyphenols and terpenoids, widely present in fruits and vegetables, constitute primary categories of agents employed for this purpose. They pose direct and indirect impacts on tumor growth and chemoresistance, mainly through impacting the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling, crucial in cellular processes, metabolism, and programmed death. This paper thoroughly discusses the biologic effects and practical application of polyphenols and terpenoids on GBM through the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling in vitro and in vivo

Exploring Gender Differences in the Effects of Diet and Physical Activity on Metabolic Parameters

Background: Gender differences in metabolic response to lifestyle interventions remain poorly explored. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a six-month Mediterranean diet (MD) intervention combined with regular physical activity on metabolic parameters in overweight adults. Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted in an obesity clinic in Rome, Italy, involving overweight adults (BMI >= 25 kg/m2) motivated to improve their lifestyle. Participants (n = 205; 107 men and 98 women) self-selected into physical activity groups (aerobic, anaerobic, combined or no activity). Gender-specific metabolic changes were assessed, including lipid profiles, liver markers and fasting glucose. Results: Significant gender differences in metabolic results were observed. Men showed greater reductions in total cholesterol (TC) and LDL, as well as significant reductions in alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Women showed a significant increase in HDL cholesterol. Fasting blood glucose decreased significantly in both sexes, with no differences between the sexes. Activity-specific analysis revealed that anaerobic activity significantly improved lipid metabolism in men, while aerobic activity produced the greatest benefits in women, including increased HDL and improved liver marker profiles. Conclusions: Therapeutic strategies combining MD and physical activity must take into account gender-specific physiological differences and the type of sport activity to optimise metabolic benefits. Personalised approaches may improve the management of cardiovascular risk factors in overweight individuals. Study registration: This study is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06661330).IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana; IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana (Ricerca Corrente)This work was supported by institutional fundings from IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana (Ricerca Corrente)

Application of a novel anthracene derivative polymer for sensitive voltammetric determination of chloramphenicol in pharmaceutical and food samples

The application of new polymers for the preparation of modified electrodes is an interesting research area, which is highly significant in the electrochemical antibiotic drug sensors for food safety and environmental sides. Herein, we successfully report the synthesis of a new anthracene-based monomer (N1, N4-bis(anthracene-9-ylmethylene)-2,5-dichlorobenzene-1,4-diamine (ADCA) and Poly(ADCA) modified carbon-based electrode has been used in sensitive and selective differential pulse voltammetric determination of chloramphenicol (CPNL) for the first time. In this platform, the proposed monomer was successfully electro-polymerized onto a cheap, lowcost, and disposable pencil graphite electrode (PGE). The cyclic and differential pulse voltammetric experiments proved that the polymer-modified electrode Poly(ADCA)/PGE) has great electrocatalytic efficiency on the reduction of CPNL. The proposed platform shows a comparable performance in terms of wide linear ranges (2.0-100 and 100-1000 mu M), a low detection limit (0.55 mu M) and high sensitivity (11405 mu A mM- 1 cm- 2) by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Additionally, the Poly(ADCA)/PGE exhibited high selectivity and antiinterference facilities for the CPNL. The fabricated sensor showed a promising potential for the determination of CPNL in food (honey, and milk), bottled water, and pharmaceutical (eye ointment) samples with acceptable accuracies and precisions