Evaluation of the descriptive values and occlusion effects of air and bone conducted cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials in normal individuals

Objective:This study was aimed to establish the descriptive statistical values of cVEMPs's responses which are evoked by air and bone conducted stimuli and to examine the effects of occlusion on bone conducted (BC) cVEMPs test. Methods:The study was carried out on 20 individuals (n = 40 ears), 11 women and 9 men, at the Medipol Mega University Hospital. cVEMPs tests were applied in five stages to the individuals who are volunteer to participate in this study. Firstly, the air conducted (AC) cVEMPs test was applied. Then, BC cVEMPs tests were applied in four different conditions with the aim of examining the occlusion effect. Results:Latency values of the AC cVEMPs response were 15.17 +/- 0.77 ms for P1 and 24.12 +/- 1.38 ms for N1 and 8.95 +/- 1.12 ms for interpeak latencies. P1N1 amplitude value was 149.73 +/- 75.00 mu V. VEMPs asymmetry ratio (VAR) was 0.16 +/- 0.16. Latency measurements of the BC cVEMPs response were 14.38 +/- 0.85 ms for P1 and 23.40 +/- 1.50 ms for N1 and 9.05 +/- 1.57 ms for interpeak latencies. P1N1 amplitude value was 107.58 +/- 54.08 mu V. VAR was 0.15 +/- 0.12. Both AC cVEMPs and BC cVEMPs parameters were demonstrated that there are not any significant differences between female-male and left ear-right ear. When AC and BC cVEMPs responses were compared, the mean P1 and N1 latencies of BC cVEMPs were significantly shorter than those of AC cVEMPs (p < 0.01). The mean amplitudes of AC cVEMPs were significantly larger than those of BC cVEMPs (p < 0.01). When the impact of the occlusion effect on cVEMPs parameters was examined, no statistical significance was found. Conclusion:As a result, it was thought that the BC cVEMPs, which is not widely used in clinics, might be used in the vestibular assessment of conductive hearing losses (CHL) in clinics, by obtaining descriptive values with this study. In addition, it was thought that it might be used as an auxiliary test to diagnose patients with hyperacusis who are disturbed by loud noises

Hepatic enzyme profiles in patients with acute viral hepatitis

Amaç: Bu çalısmada,Ave B tipi akut viral hepatit (AVH) tanısı almıs hastaların yas ve biyokimyasal özellikleri geriye dönük olarak degerlendirilmeye alınmıstır. Gereç ve Yöntem: Çalısmaya, 2004-2005 yılları arasında hastanemize basvuran 46 A ve B tipi AVH'li hasta dahil edilmistir. Çalısmaya alınan hastalar yas, cinsiyet ve basvuru sırasında ilk olarak ölçülen serum alanin aminotransferaz (ALT), aspartat a minotransferaz (AST), alkalen fosfataz (ALP), ! glutamil transpeptidaz (GGT), total ve direkt bilirubin düzeyleri açısından degerlendirilmistir. Bulgular: Çalısmaya 46 hasta alındı. Bu hastaların 40'ındaAtipiAVH(%87), 6'sında B tipiAVH(%13) vardı.A tipi AVH'li hastalarla B tipi AVH'li hastaların yas ortalamaları arasında istatistiksel olarak farklılık vardı (p<0.001). Bu hasta grupları arasında serum ALT, AST, ALP, GGT, total ve direkt bilüribin düzeyleri açısından istatistiksel farklılık yoktu. Sonuç: HastanemizdeAtipiAVH'li hastalar hepatit olgularının çogunlugunu olusturmaktadır. Bu durum hepatit B'ye karsı baslatılan immünizasyon çalısmalarına baglı olabilir.Objective: In this study, age, gender and biochemical markers in patients with hepatitis type A or B were evaluated retrospectively. Methods: Forty-six patients with hepatitis type A or B admitted to our hospital between 2004 and 2005 were enrolled in the study. All patients' age, gender and serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma-glutamyltanspeptidase (GGT), total and direct bilirubin concentrations at the time of admission were evaluated. Results: Forty-six patients were enrolled in the study. Of these, 40 patients (87%) had hepatitis type A and 6 patients (13%) had hepatitis type B. There was a statistical difference between the patients with hepatitis type A and hepatitis type B according to age (p<0.001). There were no statistical differences between these patient groups with respect to serum ALT, AST, ALP, GGT, total and direct bilirubin levels. Conclusion: Patients with hepatitis type A constitute the majority of hepatitis cases in our hospital. This is probably due to the immunization studies against hepatitis type B

Fire behavior in Mediterranean shrub species (Maquis)

The prediction of fire behavior in fire prone ecosystems is of vital importance in all phases of fire management including fire prevention, presuppression, suppression and fire use. This paper deals with an experimental burning exercise conducted in the Mediterranean region in Turkey. A series of 18 experimental fires were carried out in tall maquis fuels in Asar District, Antalya, southwestern Turkey. The site was selected for its structural homogeneity. But, there was an apparent variation in the fuel loadings in different plots. Weather conditions were within reasonable ranges during the burns. Wind speed ranged from 4.8 to 14.4 km h(-1), relative humidity from 16 to 76% and air temperature from 23.7 to 36 degrees C. Of the fire behavior characteristics, rate of spread ranged from 0.38 to 7.35 m min(-1), fuel consumption from 1.57 to 3.05 kg m(-2), and fire intensity from 188.72 to 5906.48 kW m(-1). Rate of spread was related to wind speed, relative humidity, moisture content of live fuels and vegetation cover. Fuel consumption was related to fuel loading and wind speed, and fire intensity was related to wind speed, moisture contents of live fuels and mean vegetation height and vegetation cover. Results obtained in this study should be invaluable in fire management planning

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a fatal viral infection by Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV). Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus which is member of the Bunyaviridae family, Nairovirus genus is transmitted to humans through infected ticks. Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever was first recognized in the Crimean peninsula in 1944. The disease now occurs frequently throughout Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe and the Middle East. First cases have been reported in Turkey in 2002. 1820 cases and 92 deaths were reported until 2007. In our country, cases have especially been seen northern-east Anatolia. There has been a substantial increase in cases reports from the west part ofTurkey recently. HoweverAydın is nonendemic, first cases detected in 2006 and the number of cases have been reached 29.We aimed to inform on Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever and to analyze the clinical properties of detected casesKırım Kongo Kanamalı Ateşi (KKKA) KKKA virüsü (KKKAV) tarafından oluşturulan bazen ölümcül olabilen viral bir hastalıktır. KKKA virüsü (KKKAV) Bunyaviridae ailesinin Nairovirus cinsine ait olup keneler tarafından insanlara bulaştırılır. KKKA ilk kez 1944'de Kırım'da ortaya çıkmıştır. Günümüzde hastalık sıklıkla Asya, Afrika doğu Avrupa ve orta doğuda epidemiler yapmaktadır. Ülkemizde ilk olgular 2002 yılında rapor edilmiştir. Hasta sayısı, 2007 yılına kadar 1820'ye yaşamını yitirenlerin sayısı ise 92'ye ulaşmıştır. Hastalık ülkemizde özellikle kuzeydoğu Anadolu'da görülmekle birlikte son yıllarda batı illerinden de olgu bildirimlerinde artışlar söz konusudur. Aydın ili hastalık açısından nonendemik kabul edilmesine karsın ilk olgular 2006 yılında saptanmış ve görülen olgu sayısı 29'a ulaşmıştır. Bu yazıda KKKA ile ilgili genel bilgilerin verilmesi ile birlikte ilimizde görülen olguların klinik analizlerinin yapılması amaçlanmıştır

Soil properties and root biomass responses to prescribed burning in young corsican pine (Pinus nigra Arn.) stands

Fire is an important tool in the management of forest ecosystems. Although both prescribed and wildland fires are common in Turkey, few studies have addressed the influence of such disturbances on soil properties and root biomass dynamics. In this study soil properties and root biomass responses to prescribed fire were investigated in 25-year-old corsican pine (Pinus nigra Am.) stands in Kastamonu, Turkey The stands were established by planting and were subjected to prescribed burning in July 2003. Soil respiration rates were determined every two months using soda-lime method over a two- year period, Fine (0-2 mm diameter) and small root (2-5 mm diameter) biomass were sampled approximately bimonthly using sequential coring method. Mean daily soil respiration ranged from 0.65 to 2.19 g Cm(-2) d(-1) among all sites. Soil respiration rates were significantly higher in burned sites than in controls. Soil respiration rates were correlated significantly with soil moisture and soil temperature. Fine root biomass was significantly lower in burned sites than in control sites. Mean fine root biomass values were 4940 kg ha(-1) for burned and 5450 kg ha(-1) for control sites. Soil pH was significantly higher in burned sites than in control sites in 15-35 cm soil depth. Soil organic matter content did not differ significantly between control and burned sites. Our results indicate that, depending on site conditions, fire could be used successfully as a tool in the management of forest stands in the study are

Does chlorhexidine affect the shear bond strengths of orthodontic brackets?

AbstractBackground/purposeThe purpose of this study was to examine the effect of 1% chlorhexidine (CHX) gel on the shear bond strength (SBS) of orthodontic brackets bonded with Transbond XT (XT, 3M Unitek) and Transbond Plus Self-Etching Primer (TSEP, 3M Unitek).Materials and methodsIn total, 75 extracted premolars were collected and randomly divided into five groups of 15 teeth each. Brackets were bonded to teeth using a different experimental technique for each group as follows: (I) (control): etch/dry/Transbond XT; (II) CHX gel/etch/dry/Transbond XT; (III) etch/dry/CHX gel/Transbond XT; (IV) dry/TSEP; and (V) CHX gel/dry/TSEP. All products were used according to the manufacturers’ instructions. An Instron Universal Testing Machine was used to directly apply an occlusal shear force onto the enamel-bracket interface at a speed of 0.5 mm/min. Residual adhesive on each tooth was evaluated using an adhesive remnant index (ARI). Analysis of variance was used to compare the SBS of the groups, and a Chi-squared test was used to compare ARI scores.ResultsGroup I had the highest mean SBS (16.47 ± 4.2 MPa), followed by Groups II (16.24 ± 4.5 MPa), III (13.08 ± 4.50 MPa), IV (11.95 ± 2.7 MPa) and V (11.16 ± 2.8 MPa). No statistical differences were observed between Groups I and II (P > 0.05) or between groups IV and V (P > 0.05). However, SBS scores for Groups IV and V were significantly lower than those of Groups I and II (P > 0.05). No significant difference was observed in ARI scores among any of the groups (P > 0.05). Prior application of CHX gel did not significantly affect the SBS of orthodontic bonding adhesives.ConclusionsCHX gel is thought to obviate initial caries lesions during fixed orthodontic treatment

Some parameters affecting fire behavior in Anatolian black pine slash

This study presents and discusses the results of a fire behavior study conducted in Anatolian black pine (Pinus nigra J.F. Arnold subsp. nigra var. caramanica (Loudon) Rehder) slash. A total of 30 experimental fires were conducted over 3 years under varying weather and fuel loading conditions in aging slash. Relationships between fire behavior and fuel properties and weather conditions were determined with correlation and regression analyses. Spread rate, fuel consumption, and fire intensity were all related to fuel properties and weather, and ranged from 0.2 to 3.1 m min(-1), from 0.71 to 6.65 kg m(-2), and from 14.05 to 3961.46 kW m(-1), respectively. Fuel loading ranged from 1.56 kg m(-2) to 6.96 kg m(-2). Differences in fire behavior were clearly shown to be a function of wind speed, fuel moisture, slash age, and fuel loading. Results obtained in this study should be invaluable in overall fire management practices. However, its use should be restricted to the range of conditions within which the data were gathered

Estimating fuel biomass of some shrub species (maquis) in Turkey

Regression equations were developed to estimate shrub fuel biomass of a maquis formation in western Turkey. The relationships between some shrub characteristics and live, dead, available (for consumption), and total fuel biomass were determined by simple/multiple linear regression. Measured biomass values for live, available, and total fuels varied from 0.70 to 6.74 kg m-2, from 0.78 to 3.03 kg m-2, and from 1.06 to 7.72 kg m-2, respectively. The results obtained indicated that shrub fuel biomass could be satisfactorily predicted using the regression equations generated. The resulting equations were able to account for 60% to 89% of the observed variation (P < 0.05) in the fuel biomass categories studied. The results of this study should be invaluable in many forestry disciplines, including ecology, protection, and managemen

Şehir Lojistiği: Nicel bir Araştırma

Şehir lojistiği için şehrin altyapısı ve planlaması, bisiklet yollarının varlığı ve kalitesi, toplu taşıma araçları ve yaya trafiği ile ilgili düzenlemeler önem arz etmektedir. Bu düzenlemeler kent sakinlerinin yaşamış oldukları şehirden memnun olma düzeylerini de etkilemektedir. Bu nedenle, bu çalışmada öncelikli olarak şehir lojistiği ile ilgili kent sakinlerinin mevcut durum algıları ile önem düzeylerinin karşılaştırılması yapılmıştır. Bu amaçla Türkiye’de 1708 kişiden anket ile veri toplanmıştır. Katılımcılardan yaşamış oldukları şehrin şehir lojistiği durumunu değerlendirmeleri ve bu durum ile ilgili kendileri için önem düzeylerini belirtmeleri istenmiştir. Yapılan analiz neticesinde mevcut durum ve önem düzeyi arasında en yüksek farkın altyapı boyutu için yol zemininin düzgün olması, şehir planlaması boyutu için trafik yoğunluğunun uygun olması, bisiklet yolu boyutu için bisikletle ulaşım için uygun yolların varlığı, toplu taşıma boyutu için toplu taşıma araçlarının bakımlı ve temiz olması ve yaya trafiği boyutu için ise trafikte yaya önceliğine dikkat edilmesi olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Çalışmada ayrıca şehir lojistiği boyutlarının kent yaşam memnuniyeti üzerindeki etkisi yapısal eşitlik modeli ile analiz edilmiştir. Yapılan analiz neticesinde yaya trafiği, altyapı ve toplu taşıma boyutlarının kent yaşam memnuniyetini anlamlı olarak etkilediği tespit edilmiştir. Şehir planlaması ve bisiklet yolu boyutları ise kent yaşam memnuniyetini anlamlı olarak etkilememiştir

Soil organic matter, soil pH and soil nutrient dynamics in forest stands after fire

Fires burn, spread and release energy. The process of burning not only helps increase the decomposition of organic matters but also causes the plant nutrients bound to vegetation and organic dead material to get into soil and inflicts changes on the physical and chemical properties of soil. Changes taken place in soils and their status over time are extremely important for the success of the vegetation that will establish on the site after fire. This study presents the results of a study conducted to monitor the changes in plant nutrients and soil’s chemical properties. In the study, soil organic matter, soil reaction (pH), salinity and soil nutrients were measured. Soil reaction, N and K slightly increased after fire and decreased gradually thereafter. Other nutrients gradually decreased after fire throughout the study period. As a result, it can be said that the effect of fires on soils in areas having little or no dead surface fuels are limited, yet important