Korovkin type approximation theorems in weighted spaces via power series method

In this paper we consider power series method which is also member of the class of all continuous summability methods. We study a Korovkin type approximation theorem for a sequence of positive linear operators acting from a weighted space Cρ1 into a weighted space Bρ2 with the use of the power series method which includes both Abel and Borel methods. We also consider the rates of convergence of these operators. © 2018, Element D.O.O.. All rights reserved

A Comparative Study of the Structural Dynamics of Four Terminal Uridylyl Transferases.

African trypanosomiasis occurs in 36 countries in sub-Saharan Africa with 10,000 reported cases annually. No definitive remedy is currently available and if left untreated, the disease becomes fatal. Structural and biochemical studies of trypanosomal terminal uridylyl transferases (TUTases) demonstrated their functional role in extensive uridylate insertion/deletion of RNA. Trypanosoma brucei RNA Editing TUTase 1 (TbRET1) is involved in guide RNA 3' end uridylation and maturation, while TbRET2 is responsible for U-insertion at RNA editing sites. Two additional TUTases called TbMEAT1 and TbTUT4 have also been reported to share similar function. TbRET1 and TbRET2 are essential enzymes for the parasite viability making them potential drug targets. For this study, we clustered molecular dynamics (MD) trajectories of four TUTases based on active site shape measured by Pocket Volume Measurer (POVME) program. Among the four TUTases, TbRET1 exhibited the largest average pocket volume, while TbMEAT1's and TbTUT4's active sites displayed the most flexibility. A side pocket was also identified within the active site in all TUTases with TbRET1 having the most pronounced. Our results indicate that TbRET1's larger side pocket can be exploited to achieve selective inhibitor design as FTMap identifies it as a druggable pocket

Impact differences among the landing phases of a drop vertical jump in soccer players

The aim of this study was to examine the differences of landing phase biomechanics between the players who had anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction and healthy participants during single leg drop vertical jump. In this study, 11 soccer players who had anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (aged 23.0±3.6 years, height 177±5.0 cm, weight 83.8±11.7 kg) and 9 healthy soccer players( aged 22.2±2.4 years, height 178±3.0 cm, weight 74.3±6.1 kg) participated voluntarily. During the data collection phase three high speed cameras synchronized to each other and force plate were used. Visual analysis programme and MATLAB were used to calculate kinetic and kinematic variables. Landing techniques of the subjects' were examined by flexion angle of knee, ground reaction force and moment parameters. The statistical analyses of the measured results were performed by t-test and Pearson Correlation analysis. According to the results, it was determined that peak vertical ground reaction force exhibited significant phase differences (p=0.00, and p=0.00, respectively) between the groups. Obtained results can be explained with "quadriceps avoidance" motion pattern which is characterized by decreased quadriceps activity and lower external knee flexion moment in an effort to control anterior translation of the tibia in subjects with ACL reconstruction. A better understanding of the different phases during single-leg landings can shed a light on mechanism of non-contact anterior crucaite ligament injuries therefore future researches should assess how phase differences affect drop vertical jump performance. © 2018 Montenegrin Sports Academy. All rights reserved

Examination of Technology in Turkish Social Studies Curricula

AbstractThis study is designed in descriptive model because it aims to analyze 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th grade social studies curricula in a technology focused view. In this context, document analysis technique was used which is a qualitative research method. Learning areas, acquisitions and skills in social studies curricula are considered in evaluation process. In conclusion, it was seen that in social studies curricula, Science,Technology and Society learning is directly technology oriented and this learning area has strict connections with others. Technology oriented activities are also implemented as needed in other learning areas. Besides, it was determined that there are 23 technology oriented acquisitions in 4 th, 5 th, 6 th and 7 th grade social studies curricula in Turkey. Six of them are in the 4th grade, six of them are in the 5th grade, five of them are in the 6th grade and six of them in the 7th grade. In this context, technology oriented acquisitions formed 13,2% of whole acquisitions in curricula (total 174). In skill dimension “using information technologies” skill is technology oriented and it is towards the effective usage of technology

Radiological findings and their relationship with mortality in acute pulmonary embolism

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to investigate whether sarcopenia had the potential to predict mortality by analyzing epicardial and visceral fat thickness measurements, which are among the radiological findings and scores known to be crucial in determining the prognosis and risk classification of patients diagnosed with acute pulmonary embolism (PE) in the emergency department. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included patients diagnosed with acute PE in the emergency department from January 2019 to December 2022 and involved the retrospective examination of their demographic characteristics, clinical parameters, and radiological data obtained from computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) [main pulmonary artery (MPA) diameter, pulmonary artery obstruction, right and left ventricular diameters, epicardial and visceral tissue thicknesses, and pectoralis muscle thickness (PMT)]. The primary endpoint was mortality during the hospitalized treatment and follow-up processes, and the secondary endpoint was mortality within 90 days after diagnosis. RESULTS: Of the 389 patients included in the study, 11.6% had a fatal outcome in the early period following hospitalization for treatment, and 22.6% had a fatal outcome within the 90-day (late) period after diagnosis. In patients with late-period mortality, pleural fluid (30.8%), pericardial fluid (16.7%), and atelectasis (32.6%) were found to be statistically significantly higher. Among the markers obtained from imaging examinations, only PMT – right: 9.4 [interquartile range (IQR): 6.0-14.0]; left: 9.1 (IQR: 5.4-13.8) – was associated with mortality. According to logistic regression analysis, the MPA diameter was associated with early-period mortality, and it was determined that the right ventricular diameter and the right and left PMT values had a predictive effect on late-period mortality. CONCLUSIONS: To predict mortality, CTPA-based scoring systems that include markers such as PMT, pericardial and pleural fluid, and atelectasis would be more effective; however, large-scale studies are needed to enrich these findings

The prophylactic efficacy of Anatolian propolis in individuals at high risk of COVID-19

OBJECTIVE: No prophylactic treatment is available for individuals at high risk of developing COVID-19. This study, which was conducted between December 25, 2020, and January 25, 2021, is one of the first clinical studies to evaluate the efficacy of Anatolian propolis supplement against COVID-19. The aim was to obtain evidence on the prophylactic use of Anatolian propolis in individuals at high risk of developing COVID-19. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This volunteer-based study was conducted in two centers. The study involved 209 healthcare professionals (physicians, nurses, medical secretaries) from Emergency Medicine Department of Medical Faculty of Ataturk University and Emergency Medicine Department of Rize Recep Tayyip Erdogan University. 204 participants meeting the study criteria were divided into two groups as experimental group and control group. The experimental group received 20 drops of BEE’O UP (BEE&YOU) 30% Propolis drops twice a day during a follow-up period of 1 month. The control group received no supplement but was followed up. The participants showing symptoms during the study and all the participants at the end the study were subjected to PCR testing. RESULTS: The evaluation of the results of PCR testing at the end of the study has shown that 14 participants from the control group and only 2 participants from the experimental group, who received Anatolian propolis supplement, were reported as positive cases. CONCLUSIONS: It has been found that a statistically significant protection was induced against COVID-19 infection in 98% of the experimental group, who received Anatolian propolis, compared to the control group

Factorization and Lie point symmetries of general Lienard-type equation in the complex plane

We present a variational approach to a general Lienard-type equation in order to linearize it and, as an example, the Van der Pol oscillator is discussed. The new equation which is almost linear is factorized. The point symmetries of the deformed equation are also discussed and the two-dimensional Lie algebraic generators are obtained

Evaluation of Phenotypic Carbapenemase Production in blaOXA-48 positive K. pneumoniae Isolates by Modified Hodge and Carbapenemase Inactivation Tests

Aim:In recent years, increasing colonization rates of K. pneumoniae in patients with immunosuppression, long hospital stay, invasive devices and treated with broad spectrum antibiotics lead to resistant infections. In this investigate, we aimed to investigate carbapenem resistance in multiresistant K. pneumoniae isolates derived from clinical specimens by phenotypic and genotypic methods.Materials and Methods:In July 2014, 51 K. pneumoniae isolates which were derived from clinical specimens were evaluated. Identification and antibiotic susceptibility tests of isolates were studied with automatized system. Verification of carbapenem resistance were studied with with gradient strip tests. Identification of carbapenemase resistant genes were studied with with “in house” PCR. Phenotypic tests including Modified Hodge test (MHT) and Carbapenemase Inactivation Method (CIM) were applied to all isolates. We re-studied all carbapenems for the isolates with incompatible results.Results:Resistance rates of all isolates to imipenem, meropenem and ertapenem were 78.43%, 60.78% and 96.08%, respectively. 42 of 51 isolates were positive with MHT and 43 of 51 isolates were positive with CIM. blaOXA-48 gene was identified in 42 isolates with PCR. nine isolates which were negative for blaOXA-48 and other carbapenemases gene were negative with MHT and eight isolates which were negative for blaOXA-48 gene were negative with CIM.Conclusion:MHT and CIM are fast and easy methods for the identification of carbapenemase presence. CIM is an easy screening test, but one should be cautious for false negative and positive results. We suggest that modification of the test with carbapenem discs should decrease false negative results

Development of AlphaLISA high throughput technique to screen for small molecule inhibitors targeting protein arginine methyltransferases

The protein arginine methyltransferase (PRMT) family of enzymes comprises nine family members in mammals. They catalyze arginine methylation, either monomethylation or symmetric/asymmetric dimethylation of histone and non-histone proteins. PRMT methylation of its substrate proteins modulates cellular processes such as signal transduction, transcription, and mRNA splicing. Recent studies have linked overexpression of PRMT5, a member of the PRMT superfamily, to oncogenesis, making it a potential target for cancer therapy. In this study, we developed a highly sensitive (Z' score = 0.7) robotic high throughput screening (HTS) platform to discover small molecule inhibitors of PRMT5 by adapting the AlphaLISA™ technology. Using biotinylated histone H4 as a substrate, and S-adenosyl-l-methionine as a methyl donor, PRMT5 symmetrically dimethylated H4 at arginine (R) 3. Highly specific acceptor beads for symmetrically dimethylated H4R3 and streptavidin-coated donor beads bound the substrate, emitting a signal that is proportional to the methyltransferase activity. Using this powerful approach, we identified specific PRMT5 inhibitors P1608K04 and P1618J22, and further validated their efficacy and specificity for inhibiting PRMT5. Importantly, these two compounds exhibited much more potent efficacy than the commercial PRMT5 inhibitor EPZ015666 in both pancreatic and colorectal cancer cells. Overall, our work highlights a novel, powerful, and sensitive approach to identify specific PRMT5 inhibitors. The general principle of this HTS screening method can not only be applied to PRMT5 and the PRMT superfamily, but may also be extended to other epigenetic targets. This approach allows us to identify compounds that inhibit the activity of their respective targets, and screening hits like P1608K04 and P1618J22 may serve as the basis for novel drug development to treat cancer and/or other diseases

Controlled Localized Metal–Organic Framework Synthesis on Anion Exchange Membranes

Metal–organic framework (MOF) films can be used in various applications. In this work, we propose a method that can be used to synthesize MOF films localized on a single side of an anion exchange membrane, preventing the transport of the metal precursor via Donnan exclusion. This is advantageous compared to the related contra-diffusion method that results in the growth of a MOF film on both sides of the support, differing in quality on both sides. Our proposed method has the advantage that the synthesis conditions can potentially be tuned to create the optimal conditions for crystal growth on a single side. The localized growth of the MOF is governed by Donnan exclusion of the anion exchange membrane, preventing metal ions from passing to the other compartment, and this leads to a local control of the precursor stoichiometry. In this work, we show that our method can localize the growth of both Cu-BTC and ZIF-8 in water and in methanol, respectively, highlighting that this method can used for preparing a variety of MOF films with varying characteristics using soluble precursors at room temperature