Protective effects of aspirin and vitamin C against corn syrup consumption-induced cardiac damage through sirtuin-1 and HIF-1α pathway

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of aspirin (AS) and vitamin C (VC) against cardiac damage induced by chronic corn syrup (CS) consumption via a mechanism involving sirtuin-1 (ST-1), hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), and the caspase-3 pathway in rats. Methods: Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats (14-16 weeks) that weighed 250-300 g were randomly distributed into 5 groups, each containing 8 rats: control group, CS+AS group, CS+VC group, CS+AS+VC group, and CS group. AS (10 mg/kg/day) and VC (200 mg/kg/day) were orally given to the rats. F30 (30% fructose syrup solution) was given to the rats in drinking water for 6 weeks. The rats were sacrificed by exsanguination 24 h after the last administration. Blood samples and tissue were collected for biochemical, histopathological, and immunohistochemical examinations. Non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test and Mann-Whitney U test used for the parameters without normal distribution and ANOVA and post-hoc LSD tests were used for parameters with a normal distribution to compare groups. Results: Uric acid, creatine kinase (CKMB), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels were increased in the CS group compared with the control group (1.45±0.39 and p=0.011; 3225.64±598.25 and p=0.004; 3906.83±1064.22 and p=0.002, respectively) and decreased in all the treatment groups. In addition, increased levels of MDA and decreased activity of CAT in the CS group (0.172±0.03 and p=0.000; 0.070±0.005 and p=0.007, respectively) were reversed with AS and VC therapy. A decrease in ST-1 activity and increases in caspase-3 and HIF-1 activities corrected by VC and AS therapy were observed. Conclusion: AS and VC, which display antioxidant and antiapoptotic activities, ameliorated cardiac damage induced by chronic fructose consumption by increasing the levels of ST-1 and decreasing the levels of HIF-1α and caspase-3. © 2016 by Turkish Society of Cardiology

Photonuclear reactions with Zinc: A case for clinical linacs

The use of bremsstrahlung photons produced by a linac to induce photonuclear reactions is wide spread. However, using a clinical linac to produce the photons is a new concept. We aimed to induce photonuclear reactions on zinc isotopes and measure the subsequent transition energies and half-lives. For this purpose, a bremsstrahlung photon beam of 18 MeV endpoint energy produced by the Philips SLI-25 linac has been used. The subsequent decay has been measured with a well-shielded single HPGe detector. The results obtained for transition energies are in good agreement with the literature data and in many cases surpass these in accuracy. For the half-lives, we are in agreement with the literature data, but do not achieve their precision. The obtained accuracy for the transition energies show what is achievable in an experiment such as ours. We demonstrate the usefulness and benefits of employing clinical linacs for nuclear physics experiments

The Adaptation of Emotional Autonomy Scale into Turkish and Examinatıon of Emotional Autonomy an Non-Clinical Adolescence Sample

Bu çalışmada Duygusal Özerklik Ölçeği'nin (DÖÖ) doğrulayıcı faktör analizi ve madde cevap kuramı kullanımı ile Türkçe’ye uyarlanması ve psikometrik özelliklerinin incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Materyal ve Metot: Çalışma, İzmir’de farklı sosyodemografik özelliklere sahip dört lisedeki 14-20 yaş arasındaki 600’ü kız, 445’i erkek ve altısı cinsiyet belirtmemiş toplam 1,051 öğrenci ile gerçekleştirilmiştir. Çalışmada veri toplam aracı olarak DÖÖ ve Ana-Baba ve Ergen İlişki Envanteri kullanılmıştır. 20 maddeli DÖÖ, ebeveyni idealleştirmeme, ebeveyne bağımlı olmama, ebeveyni insan olarak algılama ve bireyleşme alt ölçeklerini kapsamaktadır. Bulgular: Ölçeğin içtutarlık katsayısı 0,78 ve Guttman iki yarım test güvenirliği 0,79, üç hafta arayla yapılan test-tekrar test güvenirlik katsayısı 0,65 olarak bulunmuştur. Madde cevap kuramı ile yapılan analizlerde 1, 2, 4, 9, 11 ve 18 numaralı maddelerde iki parametreli modele uyumu gözlenmiştir. 3, 8, 10, 14, 16 ve 19 numaralı maddeler en düşük seviyede madde ayırt ediciliği, 7, 17 ve 18. maddeler düşük, 6, 8 ve 10. maddeler yüksek madde güçlük düzeyi göstermişlerdir. Ölçeğin dört faktörlü yapısının test edildiği Doğrulayıcı Faktör Analizi sonucunda iyi uyum katsayısı 0,81 olarak elde edilmiştir. Ölçeğin Ana-Baba ve Ergen İlişki Envanteri Genel Anlaşmazlık ve Bütünlük alt ölçekleri ile bağıntı düzeyi sırasıyla 0,55 ve 0,48 bulunmuştur. Sonuç: Madde cevap kuramı ile yapılan analizler bu ölçek yapısının bazı sorunlu yönlerini göstermiştir. Bu sonuç, duygusal özerkliğin çok boyutlu doğasından kaynaklanmaktadır. Bu nedenle ileride duygusal özerkliğin belirleyicileri ve sonuçlarına ilişkin yapılacak çalışmalarda çok boyutlu yapısı dikkate alınmalıdır. Bazı sınırlılıklara karşın, geniş bir Türk öğrenci örnekleminde yapılan derinlemesine yapısal analizler, DÖÖ’nün kullanışlı olduğunu göstermiştir.The study is aimed to adapt the Emotional Autonomy Scale (EAS; Steinberg & Silverberg, 1986) to Turkish through the use of confirmatory factor analysis and item response theory, and to examine the psychometric characteristics of the scale. Material and Method: The study was done among 1,051 students (600 girls, 445 boys, 6 not identified sexuality; aged 14-20) in four high schools from different socioeconomic levels in İzmir. In the study, the Turkish form of the EAS and the Parent-Adolescent Relationship Questionnaire (PARQ) were used as data collection tools. Emotional Autonomy was measured by 20-item EAS, which included deidealization, nondependency on parents, perceives parents as people, and individuation subscales. Results: The internal consistency coefficient was 0.78 and the Guttman split-half coefficient was 0.79. The test-retest reliability by three weeks was 0.65. The analysis of items by item-response theory indicated that the six items (item 1, 2, 4, 9, 11, and 18) represented a good fit to the two-parameter model fit. The analysis of items by item response theory indicated that item 3, 8, 10, 14, 16 and 19 to be the least discriminant item, and consecutively item 7, 17 and 18 followed. The most discriminant items happened to be 6, 8, and 10. The four factor structure of the scale was tested and the Goodness of Fit Index was 0.81 through confirmatory factor analysis. The correlation coefficients between the EAS total score, and the PARQ Global Distress and Cohesion Subscales were 0.55 and -0.48 respectively. Conclusion: The analysis of items by item-response theory showed some problematic aspects of the construction of this scale. This result is due to the fact the emotional autonomy is very likely to be multidimensional in nature. Therefore, in future studies of predictors and outcomes of the emotional autonomy, multidimensionality should be taken into account. Despite some limitations, an in-depth structural analysis of the EAS in a large sample of Turkish students indicates that it is possible to give a useful interpretation to the EAS

Functionalization of whole-cell bacterial reporters with magnetic nanoparticles

We developed a biocompatible and highly efficient approach for functionalization of bacterial cell wall with magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). Three Acinetobacter baylyi ADP1 chromosomally based bioreporters, which were genetically engineered to express bioluminescence in response to salicylate, toluene/xylene and alkanes, were functionalized with 18±3nm iron oxide MNPs to acquire magnetic function. The efficiency of MNPs functionalization of Acinetobacter bioreporters was 99.96±0.01%. The MNPs-functionalized bioreporters (MFBs) can be remotely controlled and collected by an external magnetic field. The MFBs were all viable and functional as good as the native cells in terms of sensitivity, specificity and quantitative response. More importantly, we demonstrated that salicylate sensing MFBs can be applied to sediments and garden soils, and semi-quantitatively detect salicylate in those samples by discriminably recovering MFBs with a permanent magnet. The magnetically functionalized cells are especially useful to complex environments in which the indigenous cells, particles and impurities may interfere with direct measurement of bioreporter cells and conventional filtration is not applicable to distinguish and harvest bioreporters. The approach described here provides a powerful tool to remotely control and selectively manipulate MNPs-functionalized cells in water and soils. It would have a potential in the application of environmental microbiology, such as bioremediation enhancement and environment monitoring and assessment. © 2010 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2010 Society for Applied Microbiology and Blackwell Publishing Ltd

Challenging the Science Curriculum Paradigm: TeachingPrimary Children Atomic-Molecular Theory

Solutions to global issues demand the involvement of scientists, yet concern exists about retention rates in science as students pass through school into University. Young children are curious about science, yet are considered incapable of grappling with abstract and microscopic concepts such as atoms, sub-atomic particles, molecules and DNA. School curricula for primary (elementary) aged children reflect this by their limitation to examining only what phenomena are without providing any explanatory frameworks for how or why they occur. This research challenges the assumption that atomic-molecular theory is too difficult for young children, examining new ways of introducing atomic theory to 9 year olds and seeks to verify their efficacy in producing genuine learning in the participants. Early results in three cases in different schools indicate these novel methods fostered further interest in science, allowed diverse children to engage and learn aspects of atomic theory, and satisfied the children’s desire for intellectual challenge. Learning exceeded expectations as demonstrated in the post-interview findings. Learning was also remarkably robust, as demonstrated in two schools eight weeks after the intervention, and in one school, one year after their first exposure to ideas about atoms, elements and molecules

Quadrupole collectivity in Ca 42 from low-energy Coulomb excitation with AGATA

A Coulomb-excitation experiment to study electromagnetic properties of Ca42 was performed using a 170-MeV calcium beam from the TANDEM XPU facility at INFN Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro. γ rays from excited states in Ca42 were measured with the AGATA spectrometer. The magnitudes and relative signs of ten E2 matrix elements coupling six low-lying states in Ca42, including the diagonal E2 matrix elements of 21+ and 22+ states, were determined using the least-squares code gosia. The obtained set of reduced E2 matrix elements was analyzed using the quadrupole sum rule method and yielded overall quadrupole deformation for 01,2+ and 21,2+ states, as well as triaxiality for 01,2+ states, establishing the coexistence of a weakly deformed ground-state band and highly deformed slightly triaxial sideband in Ca42. The experimental results were compared with the state-of-the-art large-scale shell-model and beyond-mean-field calculations, which reproduce well the general picture of shape coexistence in Ca42

Superdeformed and Triaxial States in Ca 42

Shape parameters of a weakly deformed ground-state band and highly deformed slightly triaxial sideband in ^{42}Ca were determined from E2 matrix elements measured in the first low-energy Coulomb excitation experiment performed with AGATA. The picture of two coexisting structures is well reproduced by new state-of-the-art large-scale shell model and beyond-mean-field calculations. Experimental evidence for superdeformation of the band built on 0_{2}^{+} has been obtained and the role of triaxiality in the A∼40 mass region is discussed. Furthermore, the potential of Coulomb excitation as a tool to study superdeformation has been demonstrated for the first time

Liderlik davranışını etkileyen toplumsal normların analizi

Liderlik her geçen gün daha fazla ilgiyi üzerinde toplamaktadır. Bunun sebebi liderlerin, grup düzeyinden başlayarak toplumsal düzeye kadar, bütün sosyal yapılarda önemli roller üstlenmesidir. Gerek işletmelerde gerekse de diğer sosyal yapılarda, başarı veya başarısızlık lider ile ilişkilendirilmekte ve liderin davranışı belirleyici olmaktadır. Liderin, liderliği (liderlik davranışı), sadece kendisine bağlı değildir ve çeşitli faktörler tarafından şekillendirilmektedir. Bu faktörler liderin içinde bulunduğu durumdan kaynaklanabileceği gibi, liderin geçmiş yaşantı ve deneyimlerinden de kaynaklanabilir. Bu çalışma ile liderin yaşamında (özellikle gelişme çağında) içinde bulunduğu sosyal yapıların normlarının liderlik davranışına etkisi incelenmeye çalışılmıştır. Sosyal yapılar, varlıklarını korumak, düzeni sağlamak, doğru ve yanlış eylemleri belirlemek, insanlar arasındaki ilişkilere yön vermek için düzenleyici kurallar oluşturmaktadır. Norm olarak adlandırılan bu düzenleyici kurallar; belirsizliği azaltma, davranışları kısıtlama ve bireyi özgürleştirme yoluyla insan davranışlarını şekillendirmekte ve etkilemektedir. Araştırma, bu etkinin liderlik davranışı için de geçerli olup olmadığı sorusundan hareketle hazırlanmıştır. Araştırmada, liderin içinde bulunduğu toplumsal yapılarda (aile, eğitim kurumu, sosyal çevre ve kurum) var olan normların otokratiklik düzeyi, bireyin normları benimseme derecesi ve norm varlığı ile liderlik davranışının farklılaşıp farklılaşmadığı incelenmiştir. Araştırmada veriler, 11-12 Nisan 2009 tarihinde TOBB, DEİK ve DTM tarafından organize edilen Dünya Türk Girişimler Kurultayı'na Türkiye'den katılan işletme sahipleri üzerinde yapılan anket çalışması ile elde edilmiştir. Araştırma sonucunda, liderlik davranışının demografik özellikler olan yaş, yetişilen yerin büyüklüğü, yetiştiren kişi, baba mesleği, ailenin sosyo-ekonomik durumu ve mesleki deneyime göre farklılaştığı bulunmuştur. Liderin yetişme döneminde etki altında bulunduğu normlara göre ise babanın otokratiklik düzeyi, öğretmenlerinin otokratik davranması, sosyal çevrenin kurallarına uyma düzeyi ve kurumsal norm varlığı düzeyine göre liderin davranışlarının farklılaştığı bulunmuştur. Çalışmada, otokratik sosyal yapıların otokratik lider yetiştirdiği sonucuna ulaşılmıştır. Anahtar Kelimeler: Lider, Liderlik, Davranış, Sosyal Norm.\ud Leadership has been arousing more interest by each passing day. The reason is that leaders are undertaking important roles in all social structures starting from "group" level and reaching up to "social" level. Both in establishments and also in other social structures, success and failure are associated with the leader and the behavior of the leader becomes determinant. Leadership (leadership behavior) of the leader is not solely dependent on the leader but being shaped by various factors. While these factors might originate from the circumstance under which the leader is present, they might also originate from past experiences of the leader. In this study, it was aimed to examine the effect of the norms of the social structures, in which the leader is situated throughout his/her life (especially in development era), on leadership behavior. Social structures establish regulative rules in order to protect their assets, maintain order, determine right and wrong actions and direct the relations between people. These regulative rules are called "norm". Norms shape and influence human behaviors by means of reducing ambiguity, limiting behaviors and liberating the individual. This research has been prepared upon the question whether this effect is also valid for leadership behavior or not. Leaders are included in social structures such as family, education institutions, environment, etc. in development era as an individual. They start to work in an institution in the process following the development era. In this study, the level of norm of the social structures, in which the leader is situated, is examined and it was analyzed whether the leadership behavior changes or not. Data has been obtained from the surveys conducted on employers from Turkey that participated in World Turkish Enterprises Congress organized by TOBB; DEIK and DTM on April 11th-12th, 2009. At the end of the research, it has been found out that leadership behavior changes according to age, magnitude of the place where the leader is raised, the persons who raise the leader, occupation of the father, socio-economic status of the family and professional experience and it has been found that the behaviors of the leader change according to the autocratic level of the father, autocratic behaviors of the teachers, the level of obeying the rules of the social environment and lastly the corporate norm level. It has been concluded that autocratic social structures bring up autocratic leaders. Keywords: Leader, Leadership, Behavior, Social Norms