The predictive role of haematological parameters in the diagnosis of osteoarticular brucellosis

Background: Brucellosis is a zoonosis that affects several systems, especially with the osteoarticular involvement. Objectives: This study aims to compare the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR), monocyte/lymphocyte ratio (MLR), C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), mean platelet volume (MPV) and red blood cell distribution (RDW) in patients with the osteoarticular involvement and those with non-localised brucellosis and evaluate their predictive value for the diagnosis of osteoarticular brucellosis. Methods: We enrolled 140 patients with brucellosis, 70 with the osteoarticular involvement and 70 without any localised involvement. We collected patients\u2019 data retrospectively and compared haematological parameters between both groups. In patients with osteoarticular brucellosis, a correlation of the NLR with the ESR and CRP and correlation of the MLR with the ESR and CRP were assessed. Furthermore, the predictive performance of the ESR, CRP, NLR and MLR on the osteoarticular involvement was evaluated. Results: The NLR, MLR, ESR, CRP, neutrophil and monocyte levels were higher in the patient group than the control group. Conclusion: The NLR, MLR, ESR and CRP are useful parameters to estimate the clinical course of patients with brucellosis, and the NLR and MLR are alternative to inflammatory markers in the osteoarticular involvement

Coaxial direct ink writing of core-shell meshes enables zero-waste room temperature encapsulation of multivariate fertilizers

This work offers a core-shell mesh produced via coaxial direct ink writing (cDIW) to encapsulate multivariate fertilizers. We optimized cDIW parameters, and formulated core and shell inks using poly(ethylene glycol) and polysaccharides. These formulations facilitated a slow degradation and release of ions in the soil while introducing essential nutrients. To showcase a practical application of these meshes, wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was used in controlled growth studies. The meshes with the fertilizer promoted a ∼1.5-fold growth compared to the traditional method where fertilizers are directly applied to the soil. To underline the ease of transportation, flexural strength and load bearing capacity of the meshes were studied. The flexural strength was measured as ∼600 MPa for 2-layered mesh which can also carry more than 1500 times its weight. Overall, our room temperature, zero-waste fabrication route generated a flexible, multivariate fertilizer encapsulation system that promotes plant growth

Effects of Pruning and Topping on Yield and Fruit Characteristics of Fruit Setting on Stem in Bitter Melon (Momordica charantia L.)

Bu araştırma, kudretnarı bitkisinde yetiştirme tekniği olarak uygulanan budama (kontrol, 0 dal, 2 dal ve 4 dal bırakma) ve tepe alma (kontrol ve tepe alma) uygulamalarının, bitkinin gövdesi üzerinde tutan meyvelerin özellikleri üzerindeki etkilerini belirlemek amacıyla Rize/Pazar koşullarında 2014-2015 yıllarında yürütülmüştür. Bu kapsamda, gövde üzerindeki meyvelerin dağılımı, ortalama meyve sayısı, ortalama meyve uzunluğu, ortalama meyve verimi belirlenmiş ve gövdedeki meyve veriminin bitkide toplam meyve verimine oranı hesaplanmıştır. Araştırmadan elde edilen verilere göre, tepe alma ve budama uygulamaları ile bu uygulamalar arasındaki interaksiyonun, gövde üzerindeki meyve özellikleri üzerine etkilerinin genel olarak yıllara göre değişiklik gösterdiği belirlenmiştir. İncelenen özellikler içinde, 2014 yılında, tepe almanın sadece ortalama meyve uzunluğu üzerine etkisi önemli (P<0.05) bulunurken; budama ile bırakılan dal sayısının meyve sayısı üzerine etkisi (P<0.01) ve meyve verimi üzerine etkisi önemli (P<0.05) çıkmıştır. Buna karşılık, 2015 yılı verileri incelendiğinde, tepe alma x budama interaksiyonunun ortalama meyve uzunluğu (P<0.05) ve meyve verimine etkisinin önemli (P<0.01) olduğu tespit edilmiştir.This research was carried out to determine the effects of pruning (control, 0 branch, 2 branches and 4 branches) and topping practices (control and topping) which were applied as growing techniques in bitter melon plant on the traits of the fruits setting on the stem in Rize/Pazar conditions in 2014-2015. In this context, the distribution of fruits on the stem, numbers of fruits, fruit length, fruit yield were determined and, the ratio of the fruit yield on the stem to the total fruit yield per plant was calculated. According to the results, the topping and pruning practices and the interactions between them generally changed depending on the years on the fruit traits setting on the stem. In 2014, the effect of topping on the fruit length on the stem was significant (P<0.05); the effect of the number of branches leaved by pruning on the number of fruits was significant (P<0.01) and the effect on fruit yield was significant (P<0.05). On the other hand, when the 2015 year data were analyzed, it was determined that topping x pruning interaction affected significantly fruit length (P<0.01) and fruit yield (P<0.05)

Encapsulation of Carbon Dots in a Core–Shell Mesh through Coaxial Direct Ink Writing for Improved Crop Growth

Through coaxial direct ink writing, we fabricated a core-shell mesh system for the controlled release of carbon dots (C-dots). In the core ink, we developed an ink formulation with tuned viscosity using hydroxypropyl cellulose and polyethylene glycol to host C-dots. Polycaprolactone was employed as the main shell material, in combination with sodium alginate, to control the degradation rate of the shell. We investigated the degradation profile of the 3D-printed meshes and tracked the weekly release of C-dots in an aqueous medium by spectrofluorometry. We tested the efficacy of the C-dot release on plants by placing the meshes in transparent soil with Triticum aestivum L. seeds. We observed the in vivo translocation of the C-dots in the plant using confocal microscopy. We measured the root elongation and shoot length to assess the effect of C-dots on plant growth. Our study revealed that the plants exposed to C-dots grew 2.5-fold faster than the control group, indicating that C-dots are promising nanofertilizers for aggrotech and non-toxic fluorescent biolabels for in vivo applications

AIP Conference Proceedings

In this study tin-multi walled carbon nanotube (Sn-MWCNT) lithium ion battery anodes were produced and their electrochemical galvanostatic charge/discharge tests were conducted at various (25 degrees C, 35 degrees C, 50 degrees C) temperatures to determine the cyclic behaviors of anode at different temperatures. Anodes were produced via vacuum filtration and DC magnetron sputtering technique. Tin was sputtered onto buckypapers to form composite structure of anodes. SEM analysis was conducted to determine morphology of buckypapers and Sn-MWCNT composite anodes. Structural and phase analyses were conducted via X-ray diffraction and Raman Spectroscopy technique. CR2016 coin cells were assembled for electrochemical tests. Cyclic voltammetry test were carried out to determine the reversibility of reactions between anodes and reference electrode between 0.01-2.0 V potential window. Galvanostatic charge/discharge tests were performed to determine cycle performance of anodes at different temperatures.https://doi.org/10.1063/1.494597