The effects of mineralogical and petrographical features of the Lake District rocks (Isparta, Turkey) on the quality of artificial marbles

Large quantities of marble blocks are produced from many new marble quarries which were opened around Isparta (Turkey) and its surrounding region. The opened quarries are also affected negatively by weathering as a result of karstification. Therefore, block efficiency of the quarries is low which results in a lot of waste materials that can be used in cultured marble production. The production of artificial marble from marble waste materials around Isparta is the main purpose of the study. The cultured marble is an attractive, healthy and homogenous building material. It has a wide application in the building construction sector. Artificial marble which is composed of mineral dusts and polyesters has high mechanical strength and they are durable to various chemical and high temperature environmental conditions. Based on physico- mechanical properties, cultured marbles are accepted by Turkish Standards (TS). The materials used for the production of qualified cultured marble are directly related to the hardness of the minerals used as filler in the polyester resin. Physico- mechanical properties of cultured marble depend on the physical properties of the filler minerals. The compressive strength of the cultured marble material is controlled by the physical properties of the filler minerals, therefore, the hardness of the cultured marble is determined by the hardness of the filler mineral. The following analyses were carried out: wet unit volume analysis, dry unit volume analysis, compressive strength of the materials, capillary water absorption analysis, analysis of ultrasound velocity (P- wave) and the marble wastes bulk chemical analyses were investigated and the results of the data were evaluated and discussed. In addition, natural and artificial marbles were compared with respect to physico- mechanical properties.Publisher's Versio

The outcome of the multifetal pregnancy reduction procedures in a single centre: A report of 202 completed cases

Objective: To review the results of fetal reduction procedures in our institution, evaluate its effects on the pregnancy outcome in terms of miscarriage, preterm delivery, taking home healthy babies and discuss the factors that may have contributed to the outcome

Chronic Otitis Media Resulting in Aortic Valve Replacement: A Case Report

The bicuspid aortic valve is known to be the most common congenital cardiac malformation, with an approximate incidence rate of 1-2% in the general population. Most patients are unaware of the disease until the onset of infective endocarditis, which is a life-threatening complication that may affect a heart valve or other cardiac structures at the site of endothelial damage. A 22-year-old man presented to our internal medicine clinic with a complaint of acute onset dyspnea and fatigue. His body temperature was 38 °C. A diastolic murmur was detected at the right sternal border. Two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography revealed severe aortic insufficiency, and two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography showed that the aortic valve was bicuspid. There was also a flail lesion extending the left ventricular outflow tract, resulting in pathological coaptation and severe aortic insufficiency. The patient was referred to our cardiovascular department for surgery. We herein present this case of a bicuspid aortic valve complicated by infective endocarditis due to the underlying disease of chronic otitis media related to a rare pathogen: Alloiococcus otitidis. The patient underwent a successful aortic valve replacement surgery due to aortic insufficiency following infective endocarditis. He was discharged on the 16th postoperative day in good condition

Realization of SV-PWM Motor Control Algorithm using ARM Cortex-M4 Based Microcontroller

Space vector pulse width modulation (SV-PWM), which is the one of the sensorless control techniques of the permanent magnet AC motors, is preferred because it provides voltage and frequency control and produces less harmonics than the sinusoidal pulse width modulation (S-PWM) technique, respectively. In SV-PWM method; the fact that results of the complex equations should be performed in a given period of time by the microcontroller to calculate the required switching time, makes it difficult to implement algorithm in practice. This study includes the implementation of SV-PWM algorithm using ARM Cortex-M4 based microcontroller and experiments conducted on a motor

Mortality risk factors among critically ill children with MIS-C in PICUs: a multicenter study

Background: This study evaluated of clinical characteristics, outcomes, and mortality risk factors of a severe multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children admitted to a the pediatric intensive care unit. Methods: A retrospective multicenter cohort study was conducted between March 2020 and April 2021 at 41 PICUs in Turkey. The study population comprised 322 children diagnosed with multisystem inflammatory syndrome. Results: The organ systems most commonly involved were the cardiovascular and hematological systems. Intravenous immunoglobulin was used in 294 (91.3%) patients and corticosteroids in 266 (82.6%). Seventy-five (23.3%) children received therapeutic plasma exchange treatment. Patients with a longer duration of the PICU stay had more frequent respiratory, hematological, or renal involvement, and also had higher D-dimer, CK-MB, and procalcitonin levels. A total of 16 patients died, with mortality higher in patients with renal, respiratory, or neurological involvement, with severe cardiac impairment or shock. The non-surviving group also had higher leukocyte counts, lactate and ferritin levels, and a need for mechanical ventilation. Conclusions: In cases of MIS-C, high levels of D-dimer and CK-MB are associated with a longer duration of PICU stay. Non-survival correlates with elevated leukocyte counts and lactate and ferritin levels. We were unable to show any positive effect of therapeutic plasma exchange therapy on mortality. Impact: MIS-C is a life-threatening condition.Patients need to be followed up in the intensive care unit.Early detection of factors associated with mortality can improve outcomes.Determining the factors associated with mortality and length of stay will help clinicians in patient management.High D-dimer and CK-MB levels were associated with longer PICU stay, and higher leukocyte counts, ferritin and lactate levels, and mechanical ventilation were associated with mortality in MIS-C patients.We were unable to show any positive effect of therapeutic plasma exchange therapy on mortality