The Effect of Touch Therapy on Symptoms and Psychosocial Variables in Individuals Diagnosed with Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Cancer; Psychological; Symptom; Systematic review and meta-analysis; Touch therap

Ayçiçeğinde (Helianthus annuus L.) Bazı Ön Uygulamaların Tuzluluk Stresi Koşullarında Çimlenme ve Enzim Aktivitesi Üzerine Etkisi

Bitkiler doğada, biyotik ve abiyotik stres faktörlerinin olumsuz etkilerine karşı sürekli savaşmaktadırlar. Dünyada ve ülkemizde tarımsal alanlarda karşılaşılan tuzluluk, sürdürülebilir tarımı olumsuz etkileyen en önemli faktörlerden biridir. Bu çalışma, tuz stresi koşullarındaki ayçiçeği tohumlarına ön muamele olarak uygulanan Gibberellik Asit (GA3) ve Glisin Betain’in (GB) çimlenme ve fide gelişimine etkilerini araştırmak amacıyla gerçekleştirilmiştir. Araştırma Sakarya Uygulamalı Bilimler Üniversitesi Ziraat Fakültesi Tarla Bitkileri laboratuvarında yürütülmüştür. Denemede tohumlar ekim öncesi GA3 ve GB’nin dört farklı konsantrasyonu (0, 15, 30, 45 mg/l) ile ön muameleye alınmış ve daha sonra dört farklı tuz (Na+Cl-) konsantrasyonu (0, 6, 9, 12 dS/m) ile tuz stresi uygulamasına alınmıştır. Deneme Tesadüf Parselleri Faktöriyel Deneme Desenine göre 3 tekerrürlü olarak kurulmuştur. Çalışmada çimlenme hızı, çimlenme gücü, fide uzunluğu, kök uzunluğu, fide yaş ağırlığı, kök yaş ağırlığı özellikleri ve enzim aktiviteleri olarak CAT, SOD ve POD incelemeye alınmıştır. Denemede tuzluluk stresinin artışına paralel olarak, çimlenme hızı ve çimlenme gücünde düşüşler ve diğer fide özelliklerinde olumsuz etkiler görülmüştür. Ancak araştırma sonuçlarına göre çimlenme ve fide özelliklerini incelediğimizde, genel olarak 6 dS/m tuz stresinde 30 ve 45 mg/l GB ve GA3 uygulamalarının tuz stresine karşı olumlu sonuçlar verdiği görülmüştür. Tuz stresinde özellikle 45 mg/l GB uygulaması; çimlenme hızı, çimlenme gücü ve kök yaş ağırlığı özelliklerinde olumlu sonuçlara rastlanmıştır. Sonuç olarak, ayçiçeği tohumuna tuz stresi koşullarında bitki düzenleyici gruplarına alternatif olarak Glisin Betain uygulamalarının üretimde fayda sağlayacağı kanısına varılmıştır

Ab initio calculations of DNA/RNA nucleobases with blue/black phosphorene for electronic sensing applications

Nucleobases (NBs), essential biomolecules underpinning numerous biological processes, were investigated for their adsorption mechanisms on black phosphorene (BlackP) and blue phosphorene (BlueP) monolayers using first-principles van der Waals (vdW) calculations. The study examined guanine (G), cytosine (C), adenine (A), thymine (T), and uracil (U) as adsorbates. The adsorption strength between DNA/RNA nucleobases and BlackP followed the trend G > A > C > T > U. At the same time, BlueP exhibited G > C > A > T > U. It aligns with theoretical studies in the literature on the interaction between BlueP/BlackP and NBs. Furthermore, the influence of these interactions on the electronic properties was uniquely investigated in detail. The most notable result obtained is the significant change in the band structures of BlueP upon interaction with G and A. Furthermore, this study uniquely investigates the adsorption mechanisms of NBs on BlackP and BlueP under the effect of charging by focussing on the impact on electronic properties for the first time. The results suggest a potential semiconductor-metal-semiconductor (SMS) transition for NBs on BlueP under charging. Compared to other NBs, A has a distinct influence on BlueP at the state of ΣQ = + 2 e/cell. Also, the effects of NBs on the transport properties of BlackP/BlueP monolayers have been investigated in detail for the first time. At a gate voltage (Vg) of 0.30 V, the BlackP sensor demonstrates improved sensitivity towards C, G, and U. Therefore, this study provides insights for developing the devices detecting the NBs. © Indian Academy of Sciences 2025

Determination of job stress levels of physical education and sport teachers; [Determinación de los niveles de estrés laboral de los profesores de educación física y deporte]

This study investigates how the job stress levels of physical education and sport teachers vary according to gender, age, educational status and job position. Within the scope of the research, the data obtained from 520 teachers were used and the job stress questionnaire was evaluated under four main subheadings. The results of Bartlett's test and Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) coefficient for the suitability of the data for factor analysis showed that the data were quite suitable for factor analysis; while the workload sub-heading explained the highest variance with 26.7%, skill use explained 14.2%, decision freedom explained 12.03% and social support explained 11.6% of the total variance. In the analyses based on gender differences, it was determined that male teachers had higher levels of workload stress, while female teachers had higher levels of skill use, decision freedom and social support stress. In the analyses conducted between age groups, no significant differences were found in the sub-dimensions. Similar results were obtained in the analyses conducted according to education levels. In the analyses conducted according to job positions, it was determined that administrators did not differ from non-administrators in all dimensions. These results show that it is important to customise job stress management strategies according to gender, age and job positions. It is emphasised that general stress management strategies should be developed to cover all demographic groups. © 2025, Campus EDUCA SPORTIS S.L.. All rights reserved

Finite elements investigations of the effect of different parameters on the retrofitted RC beams with anchored FRP plate

Fiber-composites constructed of reinforced polymer have recently acquired popularity as an alternative to other traditional materials used in construction reinforcement. These composites are remarkable because of their low weight, high tensile strength compared to its weight ratio, corrosion resistance, and ease of installation in strengthening and retrofitting structural parts. In this work, using the ABAQUS analytical program’s finite element algorithm to analyze 279 models, the effects of multiple parameters on the behavior of RC beams externally bonded and retrofitted with one of three types of polymeric fibers were investigated. This was achieved by modeling a quarter of the complete beams using the beams’ symmetry, where the cohesive bond model of the FRP-concrete interface and the isotropic elastic characteristics of FRP were applied. Good agreement was found between experimental data and numerical results when the material models were adopted with experimental work. Investigations indicate that a typical collapse happens when the cohesive bond breaks, and that while increasing the shear or concrete strength improves the allowable loading capacity, but it does not completely prevent the debonding failure of the beam. U-wrap anchor applications at the end of external bonding are a partial solution to the problem of early collapse in the more rigid fibers, like carbon fiber polymers. The effect of using U-wrap anchors to reduce early collapse varies depending on the stiffness of the fiber; it is effective in the least rigid fibers, like glass fiber-reinforced polymers, but less effective by increasing the stiffness of the fibers, like aramid fiber-reinforced polymers. Furthermore, increasing the U-wrap anchor width is more effective in eliminating the debonding than increasing its height. Copyright © 2025 Techno-Press, Ltd

Characterization and kinetics modelling for the titanium silicide layer formed on the Ti6Al4V alloy by pack siliconizing

The present study reports on silicide coating on Ti6Al4 V alloy by pack siliconizing technique. This siliconizing surface process was carried out in medium consisting of mixture of silicon, alumina, and ammonium chloride at 1000, 1100, and 1200 °C for 2, 4, 6, and 10 h in an argon atmosphere. The presences of outer TiSi2 and the inner TiSi and Ti5Si3 silicide compounds were verified by X-ray anlaysis technique and scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with an energy dispersive spectroscope. Depending on process time and temperature, the layer thickness of silicides formed on the surface of substrate materials changes between 9 and 47 μm leading to a diffusion controlled process. The hardness of silicides compounds measured by means of Vickers indenter ranged from 940 to 1647 HV. For silicon diffusion in the silicide compounds an activation energy of 216.27 kJ mol-1 was determined using the integral method. TG-DTA results revealed that silicide coating is stable up to 850 °C. © 2025 Elsevier B.V

Investigation of the physical and superconductivity properties of Ni3AC (A: Mg, Zn and Cd)

This study investigates the electronic and superconducting properties of Ni3AC (A: Mg, Zn, and Cd) antiperovskites through first-principles computational methods. Importantly, Ni3MgC has been identified as a superconductor with a transition temperature (Tc) of 8.644 K, while Ni3ZnC and Ni3CdC exhibit Tc values of 2.172 K and 3.861 K, respectively, in remarkable agreement with experimental. The electron–phonon interaction strength in these materials suggests medium-coupling superconductivity. This study provides significant insights into the mechanisms driving superconductivity in metal-carbide antiperovskites, identifying opportunities for their use in advanced technologies. © 2024 The Author

Sustainable biodiesel production from oil crops: The impact of bio-nutrient recycling on yield and farmer technology acceptance

Circular utilization of biowaste through biofuel production is a key priority for many waste-producing facilities seeking to internally supply biofuels and to reduce greenhouse gases. This study assesses the role of biowaste sewage sludge (SS) and its combination with biomass ash (SS+BA) in fertilizing perennial castor beans in temperate regions, emphasizing circular waste management and biofuel production. A combined approach of field experimentation and biodiesel quality analysis was implemented using two castor bean genotypes, comparing the effects of biowaste against both unfertilized and traditional fertilized controls. The introduction of biowaste nutrients significantly enhanced various plant growth parameters, leading to notable increases in seed, oil, and biodiesel yields compared with the control group. The highest yields of biodiesel and solid oil cake were recorded in the second year, with SS treatment yielding 1549 L ha−1 and 1958 kg ha−1, results that were comparable to those from SS+BA. The quality parameters of the castor bean biodiesel met established standards, with the exception of kinematic viscosity and flash point, which necessitate blending with diesel. Analysis using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) indicated that castor bean serves as an efficient biodiesel input, with the intention to use influenced by perceived benefits, barriers, and attitudes towards agricultural application. Ultimately, the study concludes that the proposed approach for biodiesel production offers a sustainable and promising option for on-farm utilization. © 2025 The Author

Optimizing callogenesis in five potential medicinal herbs for the bioactive constituents: a sustainable approach to pharmaceutical production

The search for natural antioxidants to safeguard against several diseases is expanding rapidly. Interestingly, the levels of antioxidants have been discovered to be greater in the in vitro-raised calli than the plant extracts in vivo. The aim of this research was to standardize the protocols for culturing calli of five potential medicinal herbs and determine their antioxidant and polyphenolic compounds. The calli of carnation, goji berry, harmal, bitter cucumber, and datura were developed from young leaves using Murashige and Skoog media with varied forms and concentrations of cytokinin and auxin in combination after their optimization. Goji berry, carnation, and datura initiated callus in 13 days, faster than bitter cucumber (20 days). Datura had a 28.7% higher callus induction rate than bitter cucumber. The callus weight of goji berry was three times higher than harmal, with a 25.4% greater diameter than bitter cucumber. The callus of goji berry had 4.3 times more phenolic and ascorbic content than datura and 1.9× more than harmal. The callus of datura had twice the total antioxidant capacity of harmal. The callus of goji berry exhibited 5.7% increased radical-scavenging activities than datura. The enzyme activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase were 2.6% and 2.4% greater in the callus of goji berry than datura. The callus of goji berry also had 2.1% and 2.4% increased peroxidase and ascorbate peroxidase activities than datura and bitter cucumber, respectively. From the findings, it can be concluded that the callus of goji berry is a highly promising source of natural antioxidants, exhibiting significantly higher levels of antioxidant and polyphenolic compounds compared to other medicinal herbs. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. 2024

Ebselen Alleviates Sepsis-Induced Acute Kidney Injury by Regulating Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress, Apoptosis, and Oxidative Stress

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is one of the most serious complications of sepsis, with substantial morbidity and mortality, and no effective treatment exists. Ebselen is of pharmacological significance in the treatment and prevention of a variety of human diseases, such as cancer and cardiovascular disorders. Nevertheless, the role of Ebselen in the pathogenesis of sepsis-induced AKI remains unknown. Therefore, we aimed to elucidate the impact of Ebselen, an active seleno-organic compound, on AKI induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and the associated molecular mechanisms, including endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, apoptosis, and oxidative stress. We established the sepsis-induced AKI rat model by injecting 5 mg/kg of LPS intraperitoneally. The rats were given Ebselen (5 and 10 mg/kg, orally) before receiving the LPS injection. Ebselen treatment alleviated renal tubular injury and reduced the levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (CREA) in LPS-induced sepsis model. Immunohistochemical and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL) analyses revealed that Ebselen reduced caspase-3 expressions and apoptotic cells triggered by LPS in kidney tissues. LPS-induced sepsis caused ER stress, and Ebselen treatment alleviated the ER stress by regulating eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2-alpha kinase 3 (EIF2AK3) and GRP78 in kidney tissue, as well as activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) and activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6) in serum. Ebselen decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels induced by LPS. Ebselen alleviated LPS-induced oxidative stress by modulating MDA and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels in kidney tissues and SOD, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and serum total antioxidant status (TAS) levels in serum. In conclusion, we report for the time that Ebselen might alleviate sepsis-induced AKI through the regulation of ER stress apoptosis and oxidative stress. © 2025 The Author(s). Veterinary Medicine and Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd