Water Runoff, Sediment Transport and Related Impacts in the Southeastern Black Sea Rivers

WOS: 000353483700008The Southeastern Black Sea coastal region in Turkey and Georgia is under threat of severe coastal erosion and shoreline recession. The main reason for this problem is the response of the coast to human activities. While water discharge rates were reduced by dams by approximately 7% only, about 98% of the suspended sediment is being captured by the dams, leading to reservoir siltation over time in the southern Black Sea Region Rivers in Turkey. About 83% of the total suspended sediments are carried by the Coruh River to its mouth, which determines the characteristics of the river and the shape of the coastal region. In this study, the effect of water runoff and sediment transport to the Black Sea Coast was investigated

Biochemical oxygen demand prediction in wastewater treatment plant by using different regression analysis models

OZEL AKDEMIR, UMMUKULSUM/0000-0002-1318-6655WOS: 000470119100009The management and operation of the wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) have an important role in the controlling and monitoring of the plants' operations. Various performance data are taken into account in the controlling of the WWTP. The irregularities between operating parameters often lead to management problems that cannot be overcome. The aim of this study is to provide a simple and reliable prediction model to estimate the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) with specific water quality parameters like wastewater temperature, pH, chemical oxygen demand, suspended sediment, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, electrical conductivity, and input discharge. The data records in this study were measured between June 2015 and May 2016 and obtained from the laboratory of Antalya Hurma WWTP. In the creation of the model, classical regression analysis, multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS), artificial bee colony, and teaching-learning based optimization were used. The root mean square error and the mean absolute error were used to evaluate performance criteria for each model. When the results of the analyses were compared with each other, it was observed that the MARS method gave better estimation results than the other methods used in the study. As a result, it was evinced that the MARS method produces acceptable results in the BOD estimation

Artykuł oryginalnyZwiązek pomiędzy aktywnością paraoksonazy a późną niedrożnością pomostów żylnych u chorych poddawanych chirurgicznej rewaskularyzacji wieńcowej

Background: Coronary vein graft disease is an important contributor to the morbidity after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Late occlusion of the graft is a serious complication that limits the use of the saphenous vein as a coronary bypass conduit. It is frequently encountered in old, degenerated vein grafts with advanced atherosclerotic plaque formation. Paraoxonase-1 (PON-1) is an HDL-bound enzyme which has anti-atherogenic properties and protects LDL cholesterol from oxidative modification. Aim: To examine the association between PON-1 activity and late saphenous vein graft occlusion. Methods: Thirty-eight patients who had at least one occluded saphenous vein graft (group 1; 12 females, 26 males) and 41 patients who had a patent saphenous vein graft (group 2; 7 females, 34 males) were enrolled in this study. Paraoxonase activity was measured spectrophotometrically. Results: The mean PON-1 activity in group 1 was significantly lower than in group 2 (74.1 ± 52.1 vs. 114.4 ± 90.9 U/l, p = 0.02). The mean platelet volume was significantly higher in group 1 than group 2 (8.8 ± 1.6 vs. 8.2 ± 1.1 fl, p = 0.04). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that only PON-1 activity (beta = 0.011, p = 0.042) was an independent predictor of late occlusion of a saphenous vein graft. Conclusions: Our results show that PON-1 activity is lower in patients with late saphenous vein graft occlusion. Reduced PON-1 activity may lead to acceleration of saphenous vein graft occlusion.Wstęp: Zwężenie żylnego pomostu aortalno-wieńcowego jest istotnym powikłaniem chirurgicznej rewaskularyzacji wieńcowej (CABG). Późne zamknięcie pomostu jest poważnym powikłaniem, ograniczającym szerokie stosowanie żylnych pomostów u wszystkich chorych. Najczęściej dochodzi do niego w żylnych pomostach wszczepionych wiele lat temu, w których rozwijają się blaszki miażdżycowe. Paraoksonaza 1 (PON-1) jest enzymem wiążącym HDL, który działa przeciwmiażdżycowo, ochraniając LDL-cholesterol przed utlenianiem. Cel: Zbadanie związku pomiędzy aktywnością PON-1 a późnym zamknięciem pomostu żylnego. Metody: Do badania włączono 38 chorych z co najmniej jednym zamkniętym pomostem żylnym (grupa 1 – 12 kobiet, 26 mężczyzn) i 41 chorych z drożnym pomostem żylnym (grupa 2 – 7 kobiet, 34 mężczyzn). Aktywność PON-1 mierzono metodą spektrofotometryczną. Wyniki: Średnia aktywność PON-1 w grupie 1 była istotnie niższa niż w grupie 2 (74,1 ± 52,1 vs 114,4 ± 90,9 U/l, p = 0,02), natomiast średnia objętość płytek krwi była istotnie wyższa w grupie 1 niż 2 (8,8 ± 1,6 vs 8,2 ± 1,1 fl, p = 0,04). Wieloczynnikowa analiza regresji wykazała, że aktywność PON-1 była jedynym niezależnym czynnikiem związanym z późnym zamknięciem żylnego pomostu aortalno- -wieńcowego (b = 0,011, p = 0,042). Wnioski: Aktywność PON-1 jest mniejsza u chorych z zamkniętym pomostem żylnym, co może wskazywać, że zmniejszona aktywność tego enzymu przyspiesza zamknięcie żylnych pomostów aortalno-wieńcowych

The efficacy and acceptability of the Triple P: Positive Parenting Program with Turkish parents

Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of Group Teen Triple P with parents who have behaviorally disturbed adolescents. Methods: The research was conducted in an experimental manner. The sample was 76 parents who were grouped as 38 cases and 38 controls with a block randomization method. Data were collected using the Family Background Questionnaire, General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), Conflict Behavior Questionnaire (CBQ), and Parent Satisfaction Questionnaire. Group Teen Triple P Program was implemented with the case group for 8 weeks. Data were collected immediately after the program\ua0and again after 3 months. Data were evaluated using variance analysis, t\ua0test, χ test, multivariate analysis of covariance, and analysis of covariance\ua0test. Results: It was found that participation in Group Teen Triple P resulted in the improvement of parental mental health, decreased problematic behavior of the adolescents, and fewer problems between adolescents and their parents. Conclusion: Group Teen Triple P should be made available to more parents of adolescents in Turkey

Procedural and short-term results of electroanatomic-mapping-guided ganglionated plexus ablation by first-time operators: A multicenter study

Introduction Single-center observational studies have shown promising results with fragmented electrogram (FE)-guided ganglionated plexus (GP) ablation in patients with vagally mediated bradyarrhythmia (VMB). We aimed to compare the acute procedural characteristics during FE-guided GP ablation in patients with VMB performed by first-time operators and those of a single high-volume operator. Methods and Results This international multicenter cohort study included data collected over 2 years from 16 cardiac hospitals. The primary operators were classified according to their prior GP ablation experience: a single high-volume operator who had performed > 50 GP ablation procedures (Group 1), and operators performing their first GP ablation cases (Group 2). Acute procedural characteristics and syncope recurrence were compared between groups. Forty-seven consecutive patients with VMB who underwent FE-guided GP ablation were enrolled, n = 31 in Group 1 and n = 16 in Group 2. The mean number of ablation points in each GP was comparable between groups. The ratio of positive vagal response during ablation on the left superior GP was higher in Group 1 (90.3% vs. 62.5%, p = .022). Ablation of the right superior GP increased heart rate acutely without any vagal response in 45 (95.7%) cases. The procedure time was longer in group 2 (83.4 +/- 21 vs. 118.0 +/- 21 min, respectively, p < .001). Over a mean follow-up duration of 8.0 +/- 3 months (range 2-24 months), none of the patients suffered from syncope. Conclusion This multi-center pilot study shows for the first time the feasibility of FE-guided GP ablation across a large group of procedure-naive operators