A multi-country test of brief reappraisal interventions on emotions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased negative emotions and decreased positive emotions globally. Left unchecked, these emotional changes might have a wide array of adverse impacts. To reduce negative emotions and increase positive emotions, we tested the effectiveness of reappraisal, an emotion-regulation strategy that modifies how one thinks about a situation. Participants from 87 countries and regions (n = 21,644) were randomly assigned to one of two brief reappraisal interventions (reconstrual or repurposing) or one of two control conditions (active or passive). Results revealed that both reappraisal interventions (vesus both control conditions) consistently reduced negative emotions and increased positive emotions across different measures. Reconstrual and repurposing interventions had similar effects. Importantly, planned exploratory analyses indicated that reappraisal interventions did not reduce intentions to practice preventive health behaviours. The findings demonstrate the viability of creating scalable, low-cost interventions for use around the world

Optimization of harmonics formed in asynchronous motors through SPWM and genetic algorithms

This study on the elimination of harmonics which form in three-phase asynchronous motors driven by inverters uses genetic algorithms (GA), one of the optimization methods, to suppress the undesired harmonics. By the use of Matlab/Simulink program, the study aims to identify the optimum switching angles in the optimum number. Optimum switching angles are the angles which make the first harmonic amplitude the biggest and the harmonic largest first-harmonic amplitudes which is to eliminated the smallest. The model has been developed by using sinusoidal pals width modulation (SPWM) technique in simulink environment. No technical help of this model using the (standard condition) the harmonic values, the values of the harmonic occured by using SPWM and the results obtained with GA is presented in tables and graphs and analyzed the differences between them. As a result, greatly reduced of harmonics clearly shown also with the help of graphs in the study made with GA. ©2011 Academic Journals

Effect of short term training on caveolin and VEGF expressions in skeletal muscle

Dayanıklılık egzersizi iskelet kası ve kardiyovasküler sistemde adaptif değişikliklere yol açmaktadır. Egzersiz anjiyogenezin önemli bir mediatörü olan vasküler endotelyal büyüme faktörünü (VEGF) indüklemektedir. Kaveolin-1 ve -3, kaveoller olarak bilinen hücre membran oluşumlarını oluşturan protein ünitelerdir ve kaveolin-reseptör-postreseptör etkileşimleri yoluyla sinyal iletiminin regülasyonunda aktif rol alırlar. Kaveolin-1in VEGF ile indüklenen sinyal kaskadında yer aldığı gösterilmiştir. Çalışmada kısa dönem egzersiz antrenmanının farklı lif kompozisyonlarından oluşan iskelet kaslarında VEGF ve kaveolin-1 ve -3 mRNA düzeyleri üzerindeki etkisinin incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Çalışmada 3-4 aylık Wistar Albino türü erkek sıçanlara 10 gün süreyle koşu bandına ve egzersize alıştırma programı uygulandı. Takiben denekler alıştırma (n6) ve antrenman grubu (n6) olarak ikiye ayrıldı. Antrenman grubu ratlara 3 günlük kısa dönem dayanıklılık antrenmanı yaptırıldı (20-25 metre/dakika, %10 eğim, 85 dakika/ gün). Koşu bandı deneylerine katılmayan ratlardan üçüncü deney grubu olarak kontrol grubu oluşturuldu (n6). Deneklerin gastroknemius (kırmızı ve beyaz kı- sımları), plantaris ve soleus kas örneklerinden elde edilen total RNAlarından ters-trankripsiyon PCR ile cDNA sentezlendi.VEGF_{164} ,VEGF_{188'} kaveolin-1, kaveolin-3 ve GAPDH PCR amplifikasyonunu takiben agaroz jel elektroforezi ve ardından UV kamera görüntülerinden bant yoğunluk analizleri yapıldı. Antrenman grubunda kontrol ve alıştırma gruplarına göre gastroknemius kası kırmızı kısımda VEGF_{164} mRNA düzeyinde artış olduğu gösterilmiştir (Kruskal Wallis Test: p0.033, posthoc Tukey HSD: kontrol vs antrenman p0.014, kontrol vs alıştırma p0.995, alıştırma vs antrenman p0.016). Kaveolin-1 ve -3 düzeylerinde değişiklik saptanmamıştır. VEGF_{164}mRNAsındaki artış anjiyogenik mekanizmaların tetiklendiğine işaret etmektedir. Anjiyogenik mekanizmalarda kaveolin-VEGF etkileşiminin anlaşılabilmesi için ek çalışmalar gerekmektedir.Endurance training leads to adaptational changes in skeletal muscle and cardiovascular system. Exercise induces vascular endothelial growth factor; one of the important mediator of angiogenesis. Caveolin-1 and -3 are the protein units forming the cell membrane formations as called the caveolae and take an active part in the signal transduction regulation by caveolin-receptor-postreseptor interactions. It has been shown that caveolin-1 takes place in VEGF induced signal cascades. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of short term training on mRNA levels of VEGF and caveolin-1 and -3 in the skeletal muscles composed of different fiber compositions. 3-4 months aged Wistar Albino rats were accustomed to the treadmill and exercise within a 10 days of adaptation training program. Then rats were divided group (n6). Training group rats underwent a 3 days short term endurance training program (20-25 meter/ minute, %10 inclination, 85 minute/day). A control group was formed as a third experimental group from the rats that did not participate in any of the treadmill experiments (n6). The total RNA obtained from the gastrocnemius (red and white portions), plantaris and soleus muscles, was used to synthesize cDNA via reverse transcription PCR method. Following VEGF_{164} ,VEGF_{188'} caveolin-1, caveolin-3 and GAPDH PCR amplifications agarose gel electrophoresis and band density analysis of UV camera images were performed. VEGF_{164} mRNA levels of gastrocnemius muscle red portion were induced in training group comparing to the control and adaptation groups (Kruskal Wallis Test: p0.033, posthoc Tukey HSD: control vs training p0.014, adaptation vs training p0.016, control vs adaptation p0.995). Caveolin-1 and caveolin-3 levels were unchanged. The increase of VEGF_{164}mRNA levels indicates that the angiogenic mechanisms were triggered. In order to understand the interaction of caveolin-VEGF in angiogenic mechanisms, additional studies are needed

Investigation of The Posture Positions of The Apparel Workshop Employees with The REBA and RULA Method

As the industry made progress, human labor force gained importance as an element of work life. The science of ergonomics came into being in order to take necessary precautions by determining the convenience of human motions with anatomy and risks and possible dangers during work. Through the methods of risk assessment, risks and possible dangers are determined to create a healthy environment for workers. Through REBA and RULA risk assessment methods, worker motions and postures are studied to determine convenience by calculating risk scores related to worker motions. The aim of REBA and RULA risk assessment methods is to study whether or not the worker is functioning in accordance with his/her skills and to prevent labor accidents and occupational diseases with the help of the data obtained. In this study, REBA and RULA risk scores are tried to be calculated by studying the motions of apparel workshop employees working in the fabric cutting, quality, packaging, ironing and stain removal sections. According to the analysis obtained, REBA score for the fabric cutting employee is 6, RULA score for the sewing machine operator is 4, REBA score for the quality control employee is 4, REBA score for the stain removal employee is 3, REBA score for the ironing employee is 6 and REBA score for the packaging employee is 5. According to the scores obtained through the use of REBA and RULA risk assessment method, the motions and postures of employees are determined to be at dangerous levels. Among the primary precautions needed to be taken to prevent the risks can be having the employee work at different tasks within certain intervals, monitoring the health, providing occupational health and safety educational program

Therapeutic Efficacy of Boric Acid Treatment on Brain Tissue and Cognitive Functions in Rats with Experimental Alzheimer's Disease

Introduction: Oxidative stress has an important role in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common type of dementia. Boric acid (BA) contributes significantly to the protection of the brain by reducing lipid peroxidation and supporting antioxidant defense. We aimed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of BA treatment in AD rats. Materials and Methods: Four groups were formed as Control (C), Alzheimer's (A), Alzheimer's + Boric acid (ABA), Boric acid (BA). Intracerebroventricular injection of Streptozotocin (STZ) was preferred to create an AD. After 4 weeks, BA was applied 3 times every other day. The Radial Arm Maze Test (RAMT) was used to evaluate memory and learning abilities. Biochemical and histopathological evaluations were made in the hippocampus. Results: Initial RAMT inlet/outlet (I/O) numbers were similar. Two weeks after STZ injection, I/O numbers decreased in group A and ABA compared to group C and BA (p<0.05). After the second BA application, I/O numbers increased in the ABA group compared to the A group (p<0.05). In group A, PON-1, TOS and OSI levels were higher and TAS levels were lower than in groups BA and C. After BA treatment, PON-1 and OSI levels were lower in the ABA group than in the A group (p<0.05). Although there was an increase in TAS value and a decrease in TOS, this did not make a statistical difference. The thickness of the pyramidal cell in CA1 and the granular cell layers in the dentate gyrus, and the number of intact and degenerated neurons in the pyramidal cell layer were similar between the groups. Discussion: Significant improvement in learning and memory abilities after BA application is promising for AD. Conclusion: These results show that BA application positively affects learning and memory abilities, and reduces oxidative stress. More extensive studies are required to evaluate histopathological efficacy

Comparison of Total Antibiotic Consumption of European Union Countries and Türkiye in the Period 2010-2021: Rational Drug Use and the Effects of the Pandemic

Introduction: Many initiatives are being implemented worldwide to reduce antibiotic consumption; however, the comparative analysis of these initiatives and their effectiveness in the face of large-scale variables such as pandemics are not thoroughly examined. In this regard, this study aims to analyze the total antibiotic consumption trends in the ATC group J01 in Türkiye and European countries, explore the differences between countries, and investigate the impact of the recent pandemic on changes in antibiotic consumption data. Materials and Methods: ATC group J01 total antibiotic consumption (hospital + community) data of Türkiye and 19 European countries between 2010 and 2021 were concatenated and compared. Data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the Turkish Medicines and Medical Devices Agency (TITCK) were used for the study. Antibiotic consumption data was represented in terms of defined daily dose (DDD) per 1000 patients per day. Results: Despite having the highest antibiotic consumption during the period in focus, Türkiye showed a statistically significant (p= 0.05) decrease with antibiotic consumption data of 41.43 defined daily doses (DDD) per 1000 patients per day between 2010-2015 and 32.24 DDD per 1000 patients per day between 2016-2021. In 2021, when the COVID-19 pandemic was in effect, antibiotic consumption in Europe dropped to 14.91 defined daily doses (DDD) per 1000 patients per day, the lowest level between 2010 and 2021, while in Türkiye it dropped to 24.39 defined daily doses (DDD) per 1000 patients per day recorded in 2020 and increased to 26.97 defined daily doses (DDD) per 1000 patients per day recorded in 2021. Conclusion: Rational drug use practices were effective in reducing antibiotic consumption in Türkiye. However, the trend was disrupted with the 2021 consumption data, indicating a deviation from the previous progress. In contrast, European countries displayed variations in antibiotic consumption levels, but overall, they experienced a decrease in consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic

Effects of Picroside II on Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Objective: Diabates mellitus, is a chronic metabolic disorder accompanied by an increase in oxidative stress. Ischemia-reperfusion injury is a cascade of events initiated by tissue ischemia. The cellular damage produced by reperfusion leads to an active inflammatory response. This study was performed to investigate the effect of picroside II on myocardial ischemiareperfusion injury in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes