Cyclic behavior of steel I-beams modified by a welded haunch and reinforced with GFRP

Flange and web local buckling in beam plastic hinge regions of steel moment frames can prevent beam-column connections from achieving adequate plastic rotations under earthquake-induced forces. Reducing the flange-web slendemess ratios (FSR/WSR) of beams is the most effective way in mitigating local member buckling as stipulated in the latest seismic design specifications. However, existing steel moment frame buildings with beams that lack the adequate slendemess ratios set forth for new buildings are vulnerable to local member buckling and thereby system-wise instability prior to reaching the required plastic rotation capacities specified for new buildings. This paper presents results from a research study investigating the cyclic behavior of steel I-beams modified by a welded haunch at the bottom flange and reinforced with glass fiber reinforced polymers at the plastic hinge region. Cantilever I-sections with a triangular haunch at the bottom flange and flange slendemess ratios higher then those stipulated in current design specifications were analyzed under reversed cyclic loading. Beam sections with different depth/width and flange/web slendemess ratios (FSR/WSR) were considered. The effect of GFRP thickness, width, and length on stabilizing plastic local buckling was investigated. The FEA results revealed that the contribution of GFRP strips to mitigation of local buckling increases with increasing depth/width ratio and decreasing FSR and WSR. Provided that the interfacial shear strength of the steel/GFRP bond surface is at least 15 MPa, GFRP reinforcement can enable deep beams with FSR of 8-9 and WSR below - to maintain plastic rotations in the order of 0.02 radians without experiencing any local buckling.The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK); European Commission; Izmir Institute of Technolog

Adsorption of olive leaf (Olea europaea L.) antioxidants on silk fibroin

The adsorption isotherms of oleuropein and rutin were evaluated at different temperatures, pH values, and solid/liquid ratios. The experimental data of adsorption isotherms were well fitted to a Langmuir model. The maximum adsorption capacities were determined as 108 mg of oleuropein/g of silk fibroin and 21 mg of rutin/g of silk fibroin. After adsorption of oleuropein and rutin, the antioxidant capacity of silk fibroin increased from 1.93 to 3.61 mmol of TEAC/g. Silk fibroin also gained antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae after adsorption of olive leaf antioxidants. In a desorption process, 81% of rutin and 85% of oleuropein were removed from the adsorbent surface in 70% aqueous ethanol solution. Consequently, silk fibroin was found to be a promising biomaterial for the production of functional food or dietary supplements and for the purification of oleuropein and rutin from olive leaf extracts

The Incidence of Methemoglobinemia Due to Prilocaine Use in Circumcision

Objective:Local anesthesia with prilocaine is widely used in circumcision procedures. However, the incidence of methemoglobinemia due to prilocaine use during these procedures remains unknown. Therefore, this retrospective study was planned to determine the possibility of development of prilocaine-associated methemoglobinemia during circumcision.Materials and Methods:Medical records of 2.431 patients who were circumcised between 2008 and 2015 in University of Health Sciences, İzmir Dr. Suat Seren Chest Diseases and Surgery Training and Research Hospital, Turkiye, were evaluated. Prior to all circumcision procedures, 1.5 mg/kg of local anesthetic was subcutaneously administered to the penis root at 4-5 points from a 20 mL vial containing 400 mg (20 mg/mL) of prilocaine (2%).Results:Of the 2.431 patients included in the study, two (0.008%) developed methemoglobinemia requiring treatment. According to the medical records, five patients (0.021%) developed mild bruising on the hands, feet and sides of the lips.Conclusion:Prilocaine is more frequently encountered as a cause of acquired methemoglobinemia in newborns and children compared to adults. Determining the causative factor for methemoglobinemia and undertaking early and effective application of methylene blue or ascorbic acid can be life-saving

A rare neurodegenerative disorder with a novel mutation in ROGDI and Rett- like phenotype: Kohlschutter- Tönz syndrome

Kohlschutter-Tonz syndrome (KTZS) is a rare neurodegenerative disorder that presents with seizures, developmental delay, psychomotor regression, hypoplastic dental enamel morphology characteristic for amelogenesis imperfecta, and dysmorphologies. Genetic analysis has identified loss of function mutations within the coding region of the ROGDI and SLC13A5 genes in KTZS. In this report, we documented the clinical, radiological, electroencephalographic, and genetic results of a 3.5-year-old Turkish girl, born to nonconsanguineous parents, who was the first patient diagnosed with KTZS in Turkey. The patient presented with Rett syndrome-like phenotype, neurodevelopmental delay, refractory seizures, and amelogenesis imperfecta. After obtaining informed consent, chromosomal DNA was extracted from the peripheral blood of our patient and her parents. To investigate the molecular diagnosis of the patient, the clinical exome sequencing was performed. The Sanger sequencing analysis was performed for all of the family members for the validation and segregation of this mutation. Pub Med/Medline, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were also searched to find all of the published data on KTZS. The literature comprises 18 published studies about KTZS. The genetic analysis of our patient revealed a novel homozygous c.201-1G>T mutation in the ROGDI gene. The same mutation was also found to be heterozygous in her mother and father. The mutation caused alternative splicing of the ROGDI translation and resulted in a disruption of the ROGDI protein

Classification of Breast Cancer Using Data Mining

 According to the publications of leading health organization in the world, the World Health Organization (WHO) reveals that breast cancer is the most propagated disease among women and it may end with mortality. The precautions and regular investigations are the options for preventing this cancer. Furthermore, the recognition of the sickness may begin at early stages for combating purpose.  From data science perspectives, data mining technology is used to uncover the disease according to some parameters like BMI, age and sugar routine database. The deployment of those technologies had resulted in considerable results that may help for breast cancer aid. In this research, Coimbra dataset are collected and studied according to 10 predictors. We used these predictors to estimate if the breast cancer is occurring or not. The 6 algorithms used are compared according to their performance in WEKA and in MATLAB. The comparison is useful to prove the possibility of using Data Mining algorithms to help Medicine decision engine with good precision

Relationship between interleukin-6 levels and ambulatory blood pressure in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Objective: To determine 24-hour ambulatory blood pressures (ABP) in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and its relationship with interleukin-6 (IL-6). Design: Prospective controlled study. Setting: University hospital. Patient(s): Fifty-four PCOS patients. Intervention(s): Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was conducted. Anthropometric, hormonal, metabolic, and inflammatory parameters, including plasma IL-6, C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, and nitric oxide (NO), were measured in each subject. Main Outcome Measure(s): Ambulatory blood pressure and plasma IL-6, CRP, fibrinogen, and NO. Result(s): Serum IL-6 levels of PCOS women in the highest systolic blood pressure (SBP) quartile were significantly higher than those of women in the lowest SBP quartile. The high serum IL-6 levels (serum IL-6 level R5.1 pg/mL) were associated with a higher probability of raised SBP (R126 mm Hg), with an odds ratio of 2.2 (95% confidence interval 0.8–7.9). The systolic and diastolic (DBP) blood pressures were significantly related to serum IL-6 levels. The IL-6 levels were positively and significantly correlated with serum CRP levels. Interleukin- 6 and CRP were negatively and significantly correlated with serum NO levels. Conlusion(s): The results suggest that raised plasma IL-6 levels may be related to ambulatory SBP and DBP in PCOS

Tick bite cases among hazelnut farm workers in Giresun

Ticks are arthropod vectors of many diseases. The prevalence of Lyme disease transmitted by Ixodes is not known in Turkey. The disease is caused by Borrelia species and can also be seen in domestic animals. The aim of this study is to identify the ticks, which are collected from the agricultural workers who admitted to hospitals during the hazelnut harvest season between August and September 2015, at species and genus level and investigate whether these ticks vector of Borrelia spp. Method: In this study, 152 ticks collected from 134 patients were investigated. Of all samples including larvae and nymphs, 95.24% were collected in September. All patients who admitted with complaints of tick bites were agricultural workers collecting nuts in the gardens at sea level. The ticks were identified at species and genus level with stereomicroskop, hemolymph fluid examined directly by dark-field microscope and cultured in the Borellia BarbourStoenner-Kelly (BSK-H) medium. Results: Of all the ticks, 126 (82.9%) were adults, 13 (8.55%) were nymphs and 13 (8.55%) were larvae. Stereoscopic examination of the ticks revealed that 125 (82.2%) of the adults were Ixodes ricinus and 1 (0.65%) was Rhipicephalus sanguineus. All of the 13 nymphs (8.55%) and 13 larvae (8.55%) were identified as Ixodes spp.. All forms of development cycle were detected in the samples and the forms were inconsistent with the expected development cycle. Borrelia spp., the agent of Lyme disease, was investigated in the 146 ticks defined as I. ricinus and Ixodes spp. Borrelia spp were detected by dark field microscope in 3 (2.05%) of the 146 Ixodes and Borrelia spp. were identified in 5 (3.4%) of the cultures. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that Lyme disease can be seen in our region and the most probable vector is Ixodes ricinus

Isolated subclinical right ventricle systolic dysfunction in patients after liver transplantation

Although hemodynamic alterations in end-stage liver disease (ESLD) and its association with porto-pulmonary hypertension have been well-established, the long-term effects of ESLD on RV systolic function in patients without porto-pulmonary hypertension remain disregarded. Here we aimed to assess the long-term effect of ESLD on RV function and its relationship with the use of NSBBs and clinical, laboratory and imaging parameters in end-stage liver disease. The use of NSBBs is still controversial due to concerns about reduced cardiac contractility and the possibility of increased mortality. Thirty-four liver transplant recipients were included. Demographic characteristics, laboratory and baseline echocardiography measures were obtained. Patients were recalled for transthoracic echocardiographic evaluation after transplantation. Right ventricle dysfunction was identified by having at least one value below the reference levels of RV S', or TAPSE. Isolated subclinical RV dysfunction was observed at 20.6% of the sample population. The present study demonstrates hemodynamic circulation in cirrhosis and increased preload and afterload might have long-term effects on RV function, even the lack of porto-pulmonary hypertension. These findings underline the significance of cardiac function follow-up in cirrhotic patients after transplantation. In this study, patients treated with propranolol seemed to have better RV function and less gastrointestinal bleeding. We speculated that preoperative propranolol treatment might help preserve RV function by providing RAS suppression, improving endothelial function and hyperdynamic circulation seen in ESLD. This potential protective relationship between the use of propranolol and RV function might improve mortality or graft-failure during OLT and after liver transplantation in patients with cirrhosis

Double Perovskite Structure Induced by Co Addition to PbTiO3_3 : Insights from DFT and Experimental Solid State NMR Spectroscopy

The effects of Co addition on the chemical and electronic structure of PbTiO$_3$ were explored both by theory and through experiment. Cobalt was incorporated to PbTiO$_3$ during sol gel process. The XRD data of the compounds confirmed the perovskite structure for the pure samples. The XRD lines broadened and showed emerging cubic-like features as the Co incorporation increased. The changes in the XRD pattern were interpreted as double perovskite structure formation. $^{207}$Pb NMR measurements revealed a growing isotropic component in the presence of Co. In line with the experiments, DFT calculated chemical-shift values corroborate isotropic coordination of Pb suggesting the formation of cubic Pb$_2$CoTiO$_6$ domains in the prepared samples. The state-of-the-art hybrid functional first-principles calculations indicate formation of Pb$_2$CoTiO$_6$ with cubic structure and confirms that Co addition can decrease oxygen binding energy significantly. Experimental UV-Vis spectroscopy results indicate that upon addition of Co, the band gap is shifted towards visible wavelengths which was confirmed by the energy bands and absorption spectra calculations. The oxygen binding energies were determined by temperature programmed reduction (TPR) measurements. Upon addition of Co, TPR lines shifted to lower temperatures and new features appeared in the TPR patterns. This shift was interpreted as weakening of oxygen cobalt bond strength. The change in the electronic structure by the alterations of oxygen vacancy formation energy and bond lengths upon Co insertion are determined by DFT calculations.Comment: 22 pages, 8 figures, 4 table

Comparison of sirolimus and colchicine treatment on the development of peritoneal fibrozis in rats having peritoneal dialysis

Background: Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis is a successful treatment modality for patients with end-stage renal disease. Peritoneal fibrosis (PF) is the most critical complication of long-term peritoneal di- alysis (PD). Aims: In our study, we aimed to compare the effects of colchicine and sirolimus on PF induced by hypertonic peritoneal dialysis solutions in rats. Study Design: Animal experiment. Methods: Twenty-four rats were randomly divided into three groups. The control group received an intraperitoneal injection (ip) of saline. The sirolimus group received the PD solution, plus 1.0 mg/kg/day Rapamune®. The colchicine group received the PD solution ip plus 1.0 mg/kg/day of colchicine. Blood sam- ples were taken to measure the serum levels of VEGF, TGF-β, and TNF-α. Peritoneal tissue samples were taken for histopathological evaluation. Results: TGF-β and TNF-α values in the sirolimus group were found to be statistically significantly lower than in the control and colchicine groups, but the differences between the control and colchicine groups were not statistically significant. No statistically significant differences were found between the groups regarding the VEGF values. Vascular neogenesis and peritoneal thickness were compared; the values in the sirolimus group were statistically reduced compared to the values in the control group. Mild fibrosis developed in 75% of all animals in the sirolimus group; there was no moderate or severe fibrosis observed. Fibrosis developed to varying degrees in 100% of the animals in the control and colchicine groups. Conclusion: The present study demonstrates that sirolimus might be beneficial for preventing or delaying the progression of PF and neoangiogenesis. These alterations in the peritoneal membrane may be connected with reduced TNF-α and TGF-β levels