Fabrication of vertically aligned Pd nanowire array in AAO template by electrodeposition using neutral electrolyte

A vertically aligned Pd nanowire array was successfully fabricated on an Au/Ti substrate using an anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template by a direct voltage electrodeposition method at room temperature using diluted neutral electrolyte. The fabrication of Pd nanowires was controlled by analyzing the current–time transient during electrodeposition using potentiostat. The AAO template and the Pd nanowires were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) methods and X-Ray diffraction (XRD). It was observed that the Pd nanowire array was standing freely on an Au-coated Ti substrate after removing the AAO template in a relatively large area of about 5 cm2, approximately 50 nm in diameter and 2.5 μm in length with a high aspect ratio. The nucleation rate and the number of atoms in the critical nucleus were determined from the analysis of current transients. Pd nuclei density was calculated as 3.55 × 108 cm−2. Usage of diluted neutral electrolyte enables slower growing of Pd nanowires owing to increase in the electrodeposition potential and thus obtained Pd nanowires have higher crystallinity with lower dislocations. In fact, this high crystallinity of Pd nanowires provides them positive effect for sensor performances especially

Recent Advances in Health Biotechnology During Pandemic

The outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which emerged in 2019, cut the epoch that will make profound fluctuates in the history of the world in social, economic, and scientific fields. Urgent needs in public health have brought with them innovative approaches, including diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. To exceed the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, various scientific authorities in the world have procreated advances in real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) based diagnostic tests, rapid diagnostic kits, the development of vaccines for immunization, and the purposing pharmaceuticals for treatment. Diagnosis, treatment, and immunization approaches put for- ward by scientific communities are cross-fed from the accrued knowledge of multidisciplinary sciences in health biotechnology. So much so that the pandemic, urgently prioritized in the world, is not only viral infections but also has been the pulsion in the development of novel approaches in many fields such as diagnosis, treatment, translational medicine, virology, mi- crobiology, immunology, functional nano- and bio-materials, bioinformatics, molecular biol- ogy, genetics, tissue engineering, biomedical devices, and artificial intelligence technologies. In this review, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the development of various scientific areas of health biotechnology are discussed

Microbial ecology of different sardine parts stored at different temperatures and the development of prediction models

The microbial ecology of sardines stored at 4 and 10 °C was determined using the Application Programming Interface (API) test with a stated statistical accuracy (%) at the species level for lactic acid bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae and Staphylococcus species. The microbial ecology of the gill (a), skin (b), meat (c) and intestine (d) of sardines stored at 4 °C was as follows; (a) Leuconostoc mesenteroides spp. 99.9%, Candida ciferrii 99.9%, Serratia odorifera 97.9%; (b) Enterobacter cloacae 95.6%, Pantoea spp. 62.8%, Pseudomonas luteola 99.7%, Rahnella aquatilis 78.3%; (c) Acinetobacter baumannii/calcoaceticus 98.5%, Pantoea spp. 62.8%, L. mesenteroides spp. 99.9% and (d) L. mesenteroides spp. 99.9%, Aeromonas hydrophila 65.4%. The microbial ecology of gill (e), skin (f), meat (g) and intestine (h) of sardines stored at 10 °C was as follows: (e) Cryptococcus humicola 79.9%, Cryptococcus laurentii 99.4%, Candida guilliermondii 99.8%, Staphylococcus lentus 99.4%; (f) L. mesenteroides spp. 99.9%, Candida ciferri 53.8–87.9%; (g) Pantoea spp. 25.4–70.5%, Morganella morganii 96.6% and (h) C. ciferrii 53.8–87.9%, A. hydrophila/caviae 97.8%, Cronobacter spp. 96.5%. All bacteria counts were mainly observed in the order: intestine > gill > skin > meat, at both storage temperatures. Statistical prediction models were developed to estimate the quality and shelf-life of sardines during storage. The quality of sardines was measured using regression models. The Pearson correlation r between storage times for the quality and shelf-life of gill, meat and intestine was 0.86 for sardines stored at 4 °C (model 1), and was r=1 for storage times for the quality of gill and meat at 4 and 10 °C (model 2). © 2020 Elsevier LtdEge Üniversitesi: 18-SÜF-015This study was a summary of Fevziye Nihan Bulat's MSc thesis. It was supported by the Ege University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit. Project Number: 18-SÜF-015

The effect of Des-Arg⁹-bradykinin and bradykinin-potentiating peptide C on isolated rat hearts

Objectives: Des-Arg9-bradykinin and bradykinin-potentiating peptide C (BPPC) may contribute to the regulation of cardiovascular function. Therefore, we studied effects of these peptides on coronary perfusion pressure (CPP), heart rate, left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP) and maximum rate of increase of left ventricular pressure (+dP/dtmax). Methods: The isolated rat hearts were perfused with modified Krebs-Henseleit solution. Results: Infusion of 10, 100 and 1000 nM Des-Arg9-bradykinin decreased CPP (−13.6, −14.8 and −19.0%), LVDP (−16.5, −21.0 and −30.7%) and +dP/dtmax (−11.8, −17.8 and −23.7%), respectively (p 9-bradykinin did not alter heart rate, but 1000 nM increased it (+11.3%, p max (−8.7, −18.6 and −20.3%), respectively (p 9-bradykinin and BPPC possess vasodilatory effect with modest negative inotropic action. Furthermore, high-dose of Des-Arg9-bradykinin and low-dose of BPPC may produce a tachycardic action, but high dose of BBPC may cause a bradycardic action

Storing tooth segments for optimal esthetics

Objective: A fractured whole crown segment can be reattached to its remnant; crowns from extracted teeth may be used as pontics in splinting techniques. We aimed to evaluate the effect of different storage solutions on tooth segment optical properties after different durations. Study design: Sixty central incisor crowns were divided into 6 groups (n = 10); Group 1 was kept dry; Groups 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 were placed in an isotonic solution, water, milk, saliva, and casein-phosphopeptide–amorphous-calcium-phosphate (CPP–ACP), respectively, for 30 min, 12 h, 1 day, 1 week, and 3 weeks. Color values were measured using a colorimeter. Data were analyzed with Kruskal–Wallis tests, Mann–Whitney U-tests, and Friedman Wilcoxon tests with Bonferroni stepwise corrections (p 0.01). Comparing ΔE* values, Group 6 was significantly different from the other groups for all durations (p < 0.01), except Group 4. Conclusions: A CPP–ACP complex solution seems a good choice for tooth fragment storage. Milk and saliva solutions may cause perceptible color changes if tooth fragments are stored for 3 weeks before use

Comparison of tunnel ligament release instrument assisted minimally open surgery and conventional open surgery in the treatment of tarsal tunnel syndrome.

AIM: This study compared the results of tarsal tunnel syndrome release surgeries using mini-open incisions and standard incisions. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From January 2012 until April 2018, 31 feet of 29 patients diagnosed with tarsal tunnel syndrome were treated surgically. 15 feet of 15 patients underwent surgeries utilizing minimally open technique and 16 feet of 14 patients underwent surgeries utilizing standard incisions. The following preoperative and postoperative data was obtained: foot and ankle muscle testing results, posture analyses, anthropometric measurements, joint movement ranges, pain complaints, endurance evaluation results, and functional test results. The mean follow-up period was 38 months (13-88 months). RESULTS: The mean operation times were 26.8 min (23-30 min) using the standard incision and 13.3 min (9-17 min) using the mini-open incision (p < 0.05). In the preoperative and postoperative comparisons of the total muscle strength and total joint limit values of the healthy and affected feet, statistically significant improvements were observed in both the mini-open incision and standard incision groups (p < 0.05). Moreover, statistically significant improvements were seen in both groups in the postoperative repeated toe raises for 1 minute assessments of the affected foot (p < 0.05). In the foot function index and functional foot score values, statistically significant improvements were seen between the preoperative and postoperative values in both groups (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results of this study, using a tunnel ligament release instrument assisted minimally open surgery to loosen the laciniate ligament may present an alternative to the standard incision, with its significantly decreased morbidity rate and cosmetic success

Molecular investigation of Coxiella burnetii infections in aborted sheep in eastern Turkey

Q fever is a zoonotic disease that occurs worldwide and is caused by the obligate intracellular bacterium Coxiella burnetii. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of C. burnetii infection in aborted sheep in eastern Turkey using PCR. A total of 200 fetuses were collected from aborted sheep belonging to 200 herds in different locations in the eastern part of Turkey. Foetal organ samples such as liver, spleen, lung and stomach were taken and the DNA was purified from two hundred pooled samples. PCR analysis of C. burnetii presence in infected organs was performed, and 4 samples (2%) were found positive. In addition, the pooled organ suspensions were inoculated to embryonated chicken eggs, and PCR analysis of yolk sacs showed C. burnetii DNA in 5 samples (2.5%). This study shows that C. burnetii infection has an important role in sheep abortions in eastern Anatolia region

Beneficial effects of garlic (Allium sativum) oil in experimental corrosive esophageal burns effects of garlic oil in esophageal burns [Deneysel korozif özefagus yanıklarında sarımsak yağının (Allium Sativum) yararlı etkileri]

BACKGROUND: Corrosive esophageal burns, particularly common in developing countries, lead to different problems in different age groups. The ingestion of corrosive substances can cause such problems as stricture of the esophagus, to acute perforation, and even death. Because stricture formation is related to the severity of the initial injury, the prevention of stricture constitutes a main goal of treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective and anti-inflammatory effects of garlic (Allium sativum) oil in corrosive esophageal burn. METHODS: Twenty-eight rats were randomly divided into 4 equal groups: group 1 (sham), group 2 (control), group 3 (topical treatment), and group 4 (topical and systemic treatment). In groups 2, 3, and 4, corrosive esophageal burns were generated by applying sodium hydroxide to a 1.5-cm segment of the abdominal esophagus. Normal saline was applied to group 2, topical garlic oil to group 3, and topical and systemic garlic oil were used in group 4. RESULTS: The level of hydroxyproline was lower in the topical treatment groups than in the control group (p=0.023). There was difference in tumor necrosis factor alpha level between the systemic treatment groups and the control group (p=0.044). Treatment with garlic oil decreased stenosis index (SI) and histopathological damage score (HDS) in corrosive esophageal burn rats. The SI in the topical treatment group was significantly lower than that of the control group (p=0.016). The HDS was significantly lower in group 4 when compared with the control group (p=0.019). CONCLUSION: Garlic oil is an effective agent in promoting the regression of esophageal stenosis and tissue damage caused by corrosive burns. While the protective effect of garlic oil on tissue damage is more significant when applied topically, the anti-inflammatory effect is more pronounced when applied systemically. Therefore, we believe that the application of garlic oil in patients with corrosive esophageal burns can reduce complication rates. © 2017 TJTES