Mineralogical and Geochemical Characterization of Ancient Ceramic Sherds from Dipsizin Cave Karaman, Turkey

Raw materials of two ancient ceramic sherds ceramic-1 and ceramic-2 from Dipsizin cave were analyzed by SEM-EDS in order to characterize ceramic fabrics. Characterization includes separation of temper and clay paste sections, qualitative determination of mineralogical compositions and percentage calculations of raw materials by region sketching. In this perspective, ceramic-1 is characterized as % 41.83 temper quartz, albite, rutile, lime, organic material and % 58.17 clay paste. Then, ceramic-2 is characterized to be % 37.52 temper quartz, anorthoclase, rutile, lime, organic material and % 62.48 clay paste. Clay paste sections of both ceramics include mixture of clay minerals belonging to illite and smectite clay groups. In comparison, percentages of temper and clay paste sections of ceramic-1 and ceramic-2 differ % 4.31 from each other and variety of raw materials making up both ceramic bodies are nearly same except feldspars. But individually quartz and lime percentages between ceramics differ nearly two times. In this opinion we realize that raw materials are mixed by tracking two recipes. These recipes can be explained by different pottery making technologies and/or different archaeological provenances

The Role of Information and Communication Technology in the Acculturation of Vietnamese Refugees

One of the most significant refugee populations in the United States is the Vietnamese. This group initially fled their native country to escape political oppression at the conclusion of the Vietnam War in 1975 and continued to flee in a series of separate waves that continued for more than three decades. As a relatively new immigrant group in the U.S., the Vietnamese still face a variety of challenges as they try to reestablish their lives and adapt in a new cultural environment. Acculturation is a complex process that is influenced by a number of factors. Throughout history, U.S. immigration policy has significantly affected the admission and adaptation of refugees. As shifts in the ideological frameworks, economic demands, and attitudes towards the rest of the world occurred in the twentieth century, which eventually brought the liberalization of immigration policy, this influence slowly decreased. This allowed for factors in the domestic political, economic, and social environments to become more powerful in affecting how refugees adapt in the U.S. Information and communication technologies (ICTs) have become integral aspects in both assisting and complicating the acculturation process for refugees. These technologies are helping Vietnamese refugees culturally adjust in American communities as well as maintain ties with their native culture; thus, illustrating the multifaceted nature of acculturation. However, the impact of ICTs is not uniform across all of the different waves of refugees who fled from Vietnam. This study demonstrates that interaction and communication are key aspects in cross-cultural adaptation and the importance of media in contemporary everyday life

The impact of concurrent pelvic organ prolapse reconstructive surgery on midurethral sling procedure outcome

 Objectives: To evaluate the effect of concurrent pelvic organ prolapse (POP) reconstructive surgery on midurethral sling (MUS) procedure outcome. Material and methods: The present retrospective study included 300 women with urodynamically diagnosed stress urinary incontinence that underwent MUS procedures with or without concurrent POP reconstructive surgery. Patients were divided into four groups according to the performed surgery; 1) transobturator tape (TOT), 2) TOT with POP surgery (anterior colporrhaphy, posterior colporrhaphy and vaginal hysterectomy), 3) tension free vaginal tape (TVT), 4) TVT with POP surgery. Outcomes of surgeries for each group were evaluated postoperatively at the end of the first and sixth month by performing a cough stress test and also using the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire-7 (IIQ-7) and Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI-6) questionnaires. Presence of a negative cough stress test was defined as “Cure”. Multivariate regression was used to identify the parameters for surgical failure. Results: Forty-two, 70, 49 and 139 women underwent isolated TOT, concurrent TOT and POP, isolated TVT and concurrent TVT and POP surgery, respectively. Postoperative UDI-6 score and postoperative cure rate were significantly higher in the only TOT group as compared to the TOT + POP group. However, in multiple regression analysis, women’s age, parity, body mass index, menopausal status, preoperative urodynamic parameters, MUS types and presence of any concomitant POP reconstructive surgery were found to have no significant effect on surgical outcome. Conclusions: Concurrent POP reconstructive surgery including anterior colporrhaphy, posterior colporrhaphy and vaginal hysterectomy have no affect MUS procedure outcomes

The effect of varenicline on Tp-e interval, Tp-e/QT ratio and Tp-e/QTc ratio in healthy smokers and nonsmokers

Background: Varenicline could affect the T wave and QT interval. The interval from the peak to the end of the electrocardiographic (ECG) T wave (Tp-e) may correspond to the transmural dispersion of repolarization, and increased Tp-e interval and Tp-e/QT ratio are associated with malignant ventricular arrhythmias. In this study, we assessed the effects of varenicline on Tp-e interval, Tp-e/QT ratio and Tp-e/QTc ratio. Methods: Thirty healthy volunteers (15 healthy non-smokers [NS] and 15 healthy smokers [S]) were included in the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. Varenicline (2 mg single dose) or placebo was administered in two different testing sessions (5 days after the first period, performed the second period). Tp-e interval, Tp-e/QT ratio and Tp-e/QTc ratio were assessed in the supine position and during handgrip exercise before and after the participants were given placebo or varenicline. Tp-e interval, Tp-e/QT ratio and Tp-e/QTc ratio were calculated from continuous ECG recordings and averages were used in the final analysis. Result: There were no statistically significant differences among any of the Tp-e interval, Tp-e/QT ratio and Tp-e/QTc ratio before and after placebo administration in both groups (S and NS). In the S group, Tp-e and QTc interval, and Tp-e/QT and Tp-e/QTc ratio were significantly increased after varenicline administration (Tp-e: 64.28 ± 8.78 vs. 70.42 ± ± 13.12; p = 0.02, QTc: 409.57 ± 28.17 vs. 425.28 ± 32.79; p = 0.02, Tp-e/QT: 0.18 ± 0.02 vs. 0.19 ± 0.03; p = 0.04, Tp-e/QTc: 0.17 ± 0.02 vs. 0.19 ± 0.02; p = 001) but these parameters were not changed in the NS group. Conclusions: Tp-e and QTc interval, and Tpe/QT and Tpe/QTc ratio were increased after varenicline administration in smoker

Sepsis: New Definitions and Pathogenesis

Sepsis and its sequelae are increasingly common and mortality rate is still high. The terminology used for sepsis has not been yet standardized. There is a confusion in communication for both clinicians and researchers concerning sepsis and its sequelae. In recent year, new definitions were offered for sepsis. Many mediators of pathogenesis of sepsis have recently been described. Tumor necrosis factor, interleukins and platelet activating factor seem as a central mediator of sepsis. The most important inflammatory response is seen in endothels. Endothelial damage leads to organ failure and metabolic derangements. In this paper, new definitions and current concept on pathogenesis of sepsis were reviewed