A case of pulmonary aspergillosis in white storks

ΔΕΝ ΔΙΑΤΙΘΕΤΑΙ ΠΕΡΙΛΗΨΗAspergillosis is a fungal infection affecting respiratory system both in mammals and avian species. It is more commonly encountered in birds, in comparison with its mammalian counterpart. Mostly isolated strains are Aspergillus fumigatus (95%) and Aspergillus flavus (5%). Affected lungs and air sacs reveal miliary to gross lesions like gray-yellowish or white-grayish granulomatous foci surrounded by white halos indicative of inflammatory infiltration. Five storks found dead in the rural areas near Istanbul were submitted to our faculty between years 2008 and 2014. Two of them were thought to be younger than 1-year-old and the other three were older than one year of age. Necropsies were performed right after their submissions. Aspergillosis lesions were observed in the lungs and thoracic air sacs of the first four storks. In addition to these changes the lesions were detected at the aortic bifurcation and on the testicular and renal capsule of the fifth stork. Histopathology revealed encapsulated granulomas with foci of caseous necrosis at the center surrounded by numerous macrophages, heterophil leukocytes, lymphocytes and foreign body giant cells in all the storks. Following the gross, histopathological and mycological examinations the agents were detected as Aspergillus fumigatus. Although, the number of reported deaths due to Aspergillosis is not high in storks, we believe that these birds are quite susceptible to the disease and stress factors such as migration increases the risk of pathogenicity. This report was designed as a contribution to literature since there is only one reported case available with respect to aspergillosis associated death in storks and stress factors such as migration may also predispose storks to the disease

A simple method for estimating flood flow around bridges

The software program HEC-RAS from the Hydrologic Engineering Center (HEC) of the US Army Corps of Engineers is probably one of the most commonly used methods in the world for computing water surface profiles in rivers. The energy method ( one of the four bridge subroutines within HEC-RAS) computes the bridge backwater ( the upstream surface increase) by applying standard step calculations five times from the end of the expansion reach up to the beginning of the contraction reach, using two different transition loss coefficients and different reach lengths. The aim of this study was to estimate the backwater in a less cumbersome and practical way, without sacrificing accuracy. A one-step energy method is suggested, based on a comprehensive set of laboratory bridge backwater data from compound channels. The proposed method gives an absolute mean error of 10% when applied to these laboratory data and an absolute mean error of 25% when applied to field data collected by the United States Geological Survey including actual flood profiles through many bridges

Comparison of electrocautery and quantum energy surgical devices in experimental partial hepatectomies

The quantum energy surgical device (QESD) is a new medical instrument that uses kinetic energy to heat the atoms of argon gas to a high temperature and to apply them on tissues. Unlike other devices operating on the principle of argon plasma technology, the QESD can be used in tissue vaporisation, resection, coagulation and superficial sterilisation of tissues. This study aimed to compare the amount of bleeding, duration of liver incision, duration of the whole operation and histopathological changes occurring on the surface of the incision in partial hepatectomies performed by QESD and bipolar electrocautery. The study was carried out on 16 rabbits, and showed that the QESD caused less bleeding and made it possible to perform the operations in a shorter period of time. Histopathologic examination revealed that in both the groups of rabbits operated on either by QESD or bipolar electrocautery. various changes occurred on the surface of the incision due to thermal trauma. However, the former technique was superior to the latter in terms of the efficiency of haemostasis

Experimental and finite element analysis on the steel fiber-reinforced concrete (SFRC) beams ultimate behavior

Steel fiber-added reinforced concrete (SFRC) applications have become widespread in areas such as higher upper layers, tunnel shells, concrete sewer pipes, and slabs of large industrial buildings. Usage of SFRC in load-carrying members of buildings having conventional reinforced concrete (RC) frames is also gaining popularity recently because of its positive contribution to both energy absorption capacity and concrete strength