First-Principle Investigations of (Ti1-xVx)(2)FeGa.lloys. A Study on Structural, Magnetic, Electronic, and Elastic Properties

The structural, magnetic, electronic and elastic properties of ternary and quaternary (Ti1-xVx)(2)FeGa alloys with inverse-Heusler (XA) structure were investigated at x = 0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, and 1. The crystal structures of (Ti1 - xVx)(2)FeGa compounds are cubic (space group: F (3) over barm) with Hg2CuTi prototype for x = 0 and 1. At x = 0.5 the structure is also cubic (space group: F (3) over barm) with LiMgPdSn protype, while it is tetragonal (space group: P m2) at x = 0.25 and 0.75. Calculated optimized lattice parameters (a and c), bulk modulus (B), and elastic constants (C-ij) are consistent with the available data in the literature. Total and partial magnetic moments of (Ti1 - xVx)(2)FeGa alloys were obtained. An increase in the total magnetic moment values were observed upon addition of V to the Ti2FeGa alloy. From spin polarized band calculations, Ti2FeGa, (Ti0.75V0.25)(2)FeGa, TiVFeGa, and V2FeGa have a minority-spin energy gap of 0.65, 0.38, 0.83, and 0.64 eV, respectively, and they are guessed as half-metallic ferromagnets. According to the results of second-order elastic constants, these compounds met the Born mechanical stability criteria. In addition, according to Pugh criteria, it was found that they have a ductile structure and show anisotropic behavior

Anesthetic effectiveness of topical levobupivacaine 0.75% versus topical proparacaine 0.5% for intravitreal injections

Background and Purpose: Today no method of topical anesthesia for intravitreal injection administration has been proven to make the patient comfortable yet. We compared the efficacy of topical levobupivacaine 0.75% and proparacaine 0.5% in patients undergoing intravitreal injections. Materials and Methods: A prospective, randomized study comparing two agents for topical anesthesia in intravitreal injections. Ninety-six consecutive patients were enrolled into two groups to receive either topical levobupivacaine 0.75% (n=48) or proparacaine 0.5% (n=48). Patients were asked to score their pain using a visual analog scale (VAS) immediately following the injection. The average of these scores was used as the primary outcome. The surgeon performing the procedure scored his perception of the patients? pain using the Wong-Baker FACES scale. Results: Mean VAS pain scores for two groups were found to be 44.77 ± 16.42 and 34.18 ± 14.83, respectively. Mean VAS pain score in the proparacaine group was significantly lower than that in the levobupivacaine group (P= 0.003). Mean Wong-Baker FACES scores for the two groups were 1.08 ± 0.49 and 1.10 ± 0.30, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between levobupivacaine and proparacaine groups (P=0.824). Conclusions: Topical proparacaine 0.5% was more effective in preventing pain during intravitreal injections

A Batch Adsorber Design for Rhodium Adsorption on Gallic Acid Formaldehyde Resin

The adsorption of rhodium (III) ions onto gallic acid formaldehyde resin in a batch adsorber has been studied. Adsorption experiments were carried out by agitating 1 g resin particles with 1000 ml of Rh (III) ion solution of the initial concentrations from 16.54 to 88.80 mg/l (293K, 1M HCl). Using Langmuir isotherm, a single stage batch adsorber was designed for different adsorbent mass/treated effluent volume ratios. An initial rhodium concentration of 100 g/m³ is assumed and the required amount of resin particles to recover metal ion content by 75%-99% at various volumes of effluents. For a single-stage adsorption system, thus the adsorbent demonstrated recovery capacity. For example, 1 m³ of solution is to be treated; the required masses of gallic acid resol resin are 25 kg for 75% rhodium removal. In order to recover 90% of the rhodium (III) at various volumes of solution which having different metal concentrations, the required amount of gallic acid resin was calculated. For example, 1 m³ of solution is to be treated, the required amounts of resin particles to reduce the rhodium content by 90% increased from 75 to 76 kg with increase in the initial rhodium metal concentration from 0.1 to 100 g/m³. Through such a projection, a real single stage adsorption system can be designed

Microstructure and functionality of a uniquely graded super duplex stainless steel designed by a novel arc heat treatment method

A novel arc heat treatment technique was applied to design a uniquely graded super duplex stainless steel (SDSS), by subjecting a single sample to a steady state temperature gradient for 10 h. A new experimental approach was used to map precipitation in microstructure, covering aging temperatures of up to 1430 °C. The microstructure was characterized and functionality was evaluated via hardness mapping. Nitrogen depletion adjacent to the fusion boundary depressed the upper temperature limit for austenite formation and influenced the phase balance above 980 °C. Austenite/ferrite boundaries deviating from Kurdjumov–Sachs orientation relationship (OR) were preferred locations for precipitation of σ at 630–1000 °C, χ at 560–1000 °C, Cr2N at 600–900 °C and R between 550 °C and 700 °C. Precipitate morphology changed with decreasing temperature; from blocky to coral-shaped for σ, from discrete blocky to elongated particles for χ, and from polygonal to disc-shaped for R. Thermodynamic calculations of phase equilibria largely agreed with observations above 750 °C when considering nitrogen loss. Formation of intermetallic phases and 475 °C-embrittlement resulted in increased hardness. A schematic diagram, correlating information about phase contents, morphologies and hardness, as a function of exposure temperature, is introduced for evaluation of functionality of microstructures.  Funding details: VINNOVA; Funding details: 2016-02834; Funding details: 20140130; Funding text: The financial support from the KK-foundation for the research school SiCoMaP ( 20140130 ) and the DUWELTOOL project ( 2016-02834 ) funded by Vinnova is acknowledged.</p

Vitamin B12, folate, and homocysteine levels in patients with obsessive&ndash;compulsive disorder

Nuray T&uuml;rksoy,1 Rabia Bilici,2 Altan Yal&ccedil;iner,3 Y &Ouml;zay &Ouml;zdemir,2 Ibrahim &Ouml;rnek,4 Ali Evren Tufan,5 Ayşe Kara6 1Simurg Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Center, Istanbul, 2Erenk&ouml;y State Hospital for Psychiatric and Neurological Diseases, Istanbul, 3D&uuml;zen Laboratories, Istanbul, 4Florence Nightingale Hospital, Istanbul, 5Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Abant Izzet Baysal University, Bolu, 6Bakırk&ouml;y State Hospital for Psychiatric and Neurological Diseases, Istanbul, Turkey Abstract: It is known that elevated serum homocysteine, decreased folate, and low vitamin B12 serum levels are associated with poor cognitive function, cognitive decline, and dementia. Current literature shows that some psychiatric disorders, mainly affective and psychotic ones, can be related to the levels of vitamin B12, folate, and homocysteine. These results can be explained by the importance of vitamin B12, folate, and homocysteine in carbon transfer metabolism (methylation), which is required for the production of serotonin as well as for other monoamine neurotransmitters and catecholamines. Earlier studies focused on the relationship between folate deficiency, hyperhomocysteinemia, and depressive disorders. Although depressive and anxiety disorders show a common comorbidity pattern, there are few studies addressing the effect of impaired one-carbon metabolism in anxiety disorders &ndash; especially in obsessive&ndash;compulsive disorder (OCD). This study aimed to measure the levels of vitamin B12, folate, and homocysteine specifically in order to see if eventual alterations have an etiopathogenetic significance on patients with OCD. Serum vitamin B12, folate, and homocysteine concentrations were measured in 35 patients with OCD and 22 controls. In addition, the Structured Clinical Interview for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision, Yale&ndash;Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale, Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, and Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety were conducted for each patient. It was found that vitamin B12 levels were decreased and homocysteine levels were increased in some OCD patients. Homocysteine levels were positively correlated with Yale&ndash;Brown compulsion and Yale&ndash;Brown total scores. In conclusion, findings of this study suggest that some OCD patients might have vitamin B12 deficiency and higher homocysteine levels. Keywords: obsessive&ndash;compulsive disorder, vitamin B12, folate, homocysteine, obsession, compulsio

Effect of prophylactic antibiotic use in the development of antibiotic resistance in children with recurrent urinary tract infections [Tekrarlayan idrar yolu enfeksiyonunda profilaktik amaçlı antibiyotik kullanımının çocuklarda antibiyotik direnç gelişimine etkisi]

Aim: Although prophylactic antibiotic treatment is still debatable, it is currently in use in recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs). In the present study, we aimed to observe if prophylactic antibiotic use had any effect on the development of antibiotic resistance in patients with recurrent UTIs who we followed up in our clinic. Methods: The present study was performed on patients aged between one month and 16 years, who had recurrent UTIs, and were followed up by the Department of Pediatrics at Bülent Ecevit University Medical School. Patient files were retrospectively reviewed, and 50 patients who received antibiotic prophylaxis and 100 patients without prophylaxis were enrolled in the study. Urinary tests, subsequent urinary culture results, and antibiotic resistances were compared between the groups. Results: The mean age was 42.7±44.2 months. The most frequently cultured isolated bacterium was Escherichia coli (E. coli) (58.4%). No difference was determined in bacteria in cultures between prophylaxis receivers and non-receivers. Isolation rate of E. coli was higher in urinary cultures in females than in males (p<0.001). When antibiotic resistance of all urinary culture-isolated bacteria was compared between the two groups, there was no statistically significant difference. However, an increased resistance against amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, ceftriaxone, and piperacillin was determined in prophylaxis group in whom E. coli was grown. In this study, general antibiotic resistance was most frequently observed against ampicillin (71.9%). Conclusion: In the present study, we observed that prophylaxis did not contribute so much to resistance other than E. coli. We recommend not preferring antibiotics which have increased resistance in our institution especially in children receiving prophylaxis for empirical treatment. © 2017 by The Medical Bulletin of University of Health Sciences Haseki Training and Research Hospital The Medical Bulletin of Haseki published by Galenos Yayınevi

Eye patching as a treatment for amblyopia in children aged 10-16 years

PubMedID: 21647569Purpose To investigate the effects of full-time patching regimen on the treatment of amblyopia in children aged 10-16 years. Methods Forty-seven patients with a mean age of 12.09 ± 1.65 years were included in this study. All of the patients received eye patching for the entire day, 6 days a week, during the first 3 months. The patients who achieved visual acuity of 0.00 logMAR at the third month were provided with additional patching treatment (4-6 h/day). On the other hand, the patients who showed no change in their visual acuity or an increase of less than 0.00 logMAR at the third month had 3 more months of eye patching for the entire day, 6 days a week. Results Prior to treatment, the best mean visual acuity of the amblyopic eyes was 0.48 ± 0.25 (range 1.00-0.15) logMAR. After follow-up, the visual acuity of the amblyopic eyes was 0.20 ± 0.22 (range 1.00-0.00) logMAR. Thus, visual acuity in the amblyopic eyes improved by 0.2 log unit or more in 38 of 47 patients (81%). Conclusions The present results show that patching in older children with amblyopia improves visual acuity with no serious complications. The use of patching in children to improve amblyopia seems promising. © Japanese Ophthalmological Society 2011

Leptin receptor gene Gln223Arg polymorphism is not associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome in Turkish children

The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between leptin receptor gene (LEPR) Gln223Arg polymorphism and obesity in Turkish children. Ninety-two obese and 99 lean children (between 5-15 years) were included in the study. Twenty-three of the obese children were diagnosed with metabolic syndrome. Blood samples were collected for morning fasting blood glucose, insulin, leptin, and lipid level measurements. LEPR Gln223Arg polymorphism was analyzed by restriction fragment length polymorphism. Significant differences were observed in anthropometric measurements, fasting blood glucose, insulin, leptin, and lipid levels between obese and lean children. Serum leptin levels were markedly higher in obese children. No significant association was noted between Gln223Arg polymorphism and serum leptin, insulin and lipid levels. There were no differences in the genotype frequencies or allele distribution for Gln223Arg polymorphism among obese, obese with metabolic syndrome and lean children. Our findings suggest that there is no association between Gln223Arg polymorphism and obesity in Turkish children