Sedimentary and environmental characteristics of the Gilan-Mazenderan plain, northern Iran: Influence of long- and short-term Caspian water level fluctuations on geomorphology

The south-southwestern Caspian coastal lowland in Iran, or the Gilan-Mazenderan plain, is a relatively narrow but long, composite depositional area of late Quaternary age. The Sefid Rud delta, the Anzali Lake (connected to the Caspian Sea by a meandering outlet 3.5 km long) and storm-dominated beaches are its prominent sedimentary features. They are controlled by the present water level of the Caspian Sea at -26.36 m in 2000. The Late Pleistocene-Holocene deposits of the lowland, which are covered commonly by a modern loess-origin soil, mainly consist of alternations of marine and non-marine sediments. The marine units form coastal terraces at 19-20 m (I), 2-0 m (II) and –6/-8 m (III) corresponing to the Late Khvalinian and Neocaspian transgressions. The deposits of the youngest terrace (terrace III) that represents a prograding beach-ridge complex are a consequence of several medium-term, cyclic water level oscillations in Late Holocene. Just after the initiation of the beach-ridge complex, Lake Anzali formed by damming of rivers and then by progradation of the complex in time forced to form the outlet of the lake. The nearest medium-term cycle lasted c. 65 years between 1930-1995 and the records showed that it included a lot of short-term (c. 4-5 yrs) and very short-term (week to months) water level oscillations. During the last erratic rise of sea level (1977-1996), the area of Lake Anzali doubled; the delta and the coastal sands including modern beaches were eroded on c. 30-100 m. Overall, a step-like morphology, repetition of marine and non-marine facies and also water level records of the last 75 years indicate that the ancient and recent deposition on the coastal lowland has been controlled by long- medium- and short-term fluctuations of the Caspian Sea level

Changes in hemostasis parameters in nonfatal methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia complicated by endocarditis or thromboembolic events : a prospective gender-age adjusted cohort study

The aim of this study was to examine the changes in hemostasis parameters in endocarditis and thromboembolic events in nonfatal methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (MS-SAB) - a topic not evaluated previously. In total, 155 patients were recruited and were categorized according to the presence of endocarditis or thromboembolic events with gender-age adjusted controls. Patients who deceased within 90 days or patients not chosen as controls were excluded. SAB management was supervised by an infectious disease specialist. Patients with endocarditis (N = 21), compared to controls (N = 21), presented lower antithrombin III at day 4 (p <0.05), elevated antithrombin III at day 90 (p <0.01), prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time at days 4 and 10 (p <0.05), and enhanced thrombin-antithrombin complex at day 4 (p <0.01). Thromboembolic events (N = 8), compared to controls (N = 34), significantly increased thrombin-antithrombin complex at day 4 (p <0.05). In receiver operating characteristic analysis, the changes in these hemostasis parameters at day 4 predicted endocarditis and thromboembolic events (p <0.05). No differences in hemoglobin, thrombocyte, prothrombin fragment, thrombin time, factor VIII, D-dimer or fibrinogen levels were observed between cases and controls. The results suggest that nonfatal MS-SAB patients present marginal hemostasis parameter changes that, however, may have predictability for endocarditis or thromboembolic events. Larger studies are needed to further assess the connection of hemostasis to complications in SAB.Peer reviewe

Coffee, Alcohol, Smoking, Physical Activity and QT Interval Duration: Results from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Abnormalities in the electrocardiographic QT interval duration have been associated with an increased risk of ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. However, there is substantial uncertainty about the effect of modifiable factors such as coffee intake, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical activity on QT interval duration.We studied 7795 men and women from the Third National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHANES III, 1988-1994). Baseline QT interval was measured from the standard 12-lead electrocardiogram. Coffee and tea intake, alcohol consumption, leisure-time physical activities over the past month, and lifetime smoking habits were determined using validated questionnaires during the home interview.In the fully adjusted model, the average differences in QT interval comparing participants drinking ≥6 cups/day to those who did not drink any were -1.2 ms (95% CI -4.4 to 2.0) for coffee, and -2.0 ms (-11.2 to 7.3) for tea, respectively. The average differences in QT interval duration comparing current to never smokers was 1.2 ms (-0.6 to 2.9) while the average difference in QT interval duration comparing participants drinking ≥7 drinks/week to non-drinkers was 1.8 ms (-0.5 to 4.0). The age, race/ethnicity, and RR-interval adjusted differences in average QT interval duration comparing men with binge drinking episodes to non-drinkers or drinkers without binge drinking were 2.8 ms (0.4 to 5.3) and 4.0 ms (1.6 to 6.4), respectively. The corresponding differences in women were 1.1 (-2.9 to 5.2) and 1.7 ms (-2.3 to 5.7). Finally, the average differences in QT interval comparing the highest vs. the lowest categories of total physical activity was -0.8 ms (-3.0 to 1.4).Binge drinking was associated with longer QT interval in men but not in women. QT interval duration was not associated with other modifiable factors including coffee and tea intake, smoking, and physical activity

Energy and energy utilization in Turkey during 1995

Energy and exergy utilization in Turkey have been analysed. We have evaluated the conversion sector and end uses for transportation, industrial, residential and commercial applications. Energy efficiencies are about 15% for transportation, 45% for thermal and hydropower plants, 55% for residential and commercial uses and 58% for industrial applications. The exergy efficiencies are about 6% for residential and commercial uses, 15% for transportation, 33% for industrial applications and 45% for the utility sector. Overall averages are 35% for energy and 13% for exergy utilization

Design and cfd analysis of a 150kw 8-stage orc-rot (organic rankine cycle-radial outflow turbine) and performance degradation due to blade tip clearance of labyrinth seal

International Gas Turbine InstituteASME Turbo Expo 2018: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition, GT 2018 -- 11 June 2018 through 15 June 2018 -- -- 138886In this study, blade tip leakages were calculated for a Radial Outflow Turbine (ROT) designed for an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) at a 150kW power output. Since the turbine blade sizes are relatively very small for low-capacity systems, the leakages through the blade tip clearances considerably affect the turbine isentropic efficiency. Therefore, labyrinth seals were applied at the blade tips and the ROT's performance degradation due to blade tip leakages was investigated. In order to determine the preliminary ROT sizes, an inhouse developed 1-D code was utilized. The blade profiles were optimized with CFD analyses to reach high power output and isentropic efficiency. The designed ROT has 8 stages. Toluene is used as the cycle fluid at inlet conditions of 24bar of total pressure, 310°C and outlet conditions of 0.25bar of static pressure. These conditions are chosen for exhaust conditions of a common biogas engine. Thus, the ORC is supposed to operate at a heat source temperature of 460°C and a heat sink temperature of 35°C. The turbine speed of 14000 rpm is determined. The CFD model for the entire 3-D turbine geometry is built in the FlowVision software. The real gas equation is employed for the compressible flow. The SST turbulent flow model is employed. The CFD model uses transient state and rotating frame approaches. Four blade tip configurations were analyzed. The CFD results reveal the followings. The turbine isentropic efficiency is calculated to be 87.62% for the unshrouded geometry with no clearance, which is an ideal case. For a manufacturable and manageable blade tip clearance of 0.2 mm, the turbine isentropic efficiency is calculated to be 71.03% for the unshrouded geometry. The shrouded geometry with the same clearance increases the efficiency to 74.03%. When a labyrinth seal is applied to the shrouded geometry, the efficiency reaches to 77.03%. The best practice in terms of turbine power output and efficiency is the shrouded geometry with labyrinth seal applications. © 2018 ASME

HIGH RISK OF GESTATIONAL TROPHOBLASTIC NEOPLASIA DEVELOPMENT IN RECURRENT HYDATIDIFORM MOLES WITH NLRP7 PATHOGENIC VARIATIONS

Objective: Pathogenic variations of the NLRP7 and KHDC3L genes are responsible for familial recurrent hydatidiform moles, a rare autosomal recessive phenomenon that can lead to severe comorbidities. Little is known about the diversity of genetic defects or the natural course of disease progression among recurrent hydatidiform mole cases from distinct ethnicities. In this study, we aimed to investigate the mutation profile and pregnancy outcomes in patients with multiple molar pregnancies.Material and Methods:Three unrelated cases with recurrent molar pregnancies are included in this study. None of the patients had a known family history of molar pregnancy. Clinical findings and follow-up results are documented. Sanger sequencing is used to reveal genetic defects in exons and exon-intron boundaries of NLRP7 and KHDC3L genes.Results: NLRP7 pathogenic variants were found in all three cases. In two cases, homozygous, c.2471+1G>A canonical splice cite variant was identified and in one case a homozygous, c.2571dupC (p.Ile858HisfsTer11) frameshift variant was identified. No variant in the KHDC3L gene was found in any case. In all cases, the development of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia complicated the clinical course and the treatment plans.Conclusions: We found that defects of the NLRP7 gene are principally responsible for etiology in our region, and the mutation profile suggests a founder effect in the Turkish population. We suggest early genetic diagnosis and counseling in molar pregnancies and recommend close follow-up in terms of conversion to gestational trophoblastic neoplasia