Dizel-Metanol-Nanopartikül ile Çalışan Bir Dizel Motorda Titreşim ve Gürültü Değişimlerinin İncelenmesi

Yüksek tork çıkışı ve yakıt tasarrufu sebebiyle birçok araçta ve ekipmanda kullanılan dizel motorlar, sıkılaşan emisyon standartları sebebiyle üzerinde daha çok çalışması gereken konular arasında yerini almıştır. Bu nedenle dizel motorlardaki katkı maddeleri ile emisyonları azaltmak büyük önem taşımaktadır. Son zamanlarda dizel motorda kullanılan alternatif yakıtlara nanopartiküllerin ilavesi ile emisyon ve performans üzerindeki etkisini ortaya koyamaya çalışan birçok çalışma yapılmıştır. Bunun yanı sıra dizel motorların neden olduğu olumsuz etkilerin arasında yer alan titreşim ve gürültü konusu pek çalışılmamıştır. Bu çalışmada, hacimce %90 dizel yakıtına %10 metanol eklenerek oluşturulan test yakıtına 50 ppm, 100 ppm ve 200 ppm Al2O3 eklenerek 5 farklı test yakıtı oluşturulmuştur. Metal-oksit bazlı nanopartiküllerin eklenmesi ilk olarak biyodizelin setan sayısını ve ısıtma değerini arttırmıştır. Biyodizel-nanopartikül karışımlarındaki daha yüksek oksijen atomları yanma sürecinin kalitesini artırmıştır. Test motoru 2000 rpm sabit motor hızında 2.5, 5, 7.5 ve 10 Nm motor yüklerinde yüklenerek testler gerçekleştirilmiştir. Gerçekleştirilen testlerde metal-oksit bazlı nanopartiküllerin eklenmesi titreşim ve gürültü değerlerinin değişimleri incelenmiştir. Elde edilen çıktılar dizel motorlarda sürdürülebilirlik ve alternatif yakıtların gelişimine katkı sağlayacaktır

Pirolitik Yakıt-Dizel-Alkol Karışımları ile Çalışan Bir Dizel Motorun HC ve NO Emisyonlarının Araştırılması

Dünya nüfusunun artması ile birlikte atık miktarında da hızlı bir artış meydana gelmektedir. Sürdürülebilir bir çevre, ancak kaynakların korunarak ya da tekrar değerlendirilerek etkili bir şekilde kullanımı ile mümkündür. Atıkların sürdürülebilir bir şekilde tekrar döngüye kazandırılması en etkin yöntemlerden birisi olarak kabul görmektedir. Bu bağlamda, son dönemlerde atıktan enerji elde edilmesi de popüler konular arasındadır. Bu çalışmada, atık araç lastiklerinden piroliz yöntemi ile pirolitik yağlar elde edilmiştir. Bu yağlar, saf dizel yakıtlarla belirli oranlarda harmanlanarak bir dizel motorda kullanılabilirliği test edilmiştir. Testler 250, 500, 750 ve 1000 W motor yüklerinde gerçekleştirilmiştir. Yakıt özelliklerinin iyileştirilmesi amacıyla, dizel-prolitik yakıt karışımlarına daha sonra n-bütanol ilave edilerek karışımın oksijen içeriği zenginleştirilmiştir. Sonuçta, HC ve NO emisyonlarında önemli düşüşler elde edilmiştir. Çalışma, atık araç lastiklerinin tekrar değerlendirilerek saf dizel yakıta göre daha temiz bir şekilde yakılabileceğini ve böylece doğadan yok edilebileceğini göstermektedir. Ayrıca bu çıktılar, sürdürülebilirlik, çevre bilinci, atık yönetimi ve hızla tükenen fosil yakıtlar için de oldukça umut vericidir

Preparation and characterization of non-viral gene delivery systems with pEGFP-C1 Plasmid DNA

In recent years, non-viral delivery systems for plasmid DNA have become particularly important. They can overcome the disadvantages of viral systems such as insertional mutagenesis and unpredicted immunogenicity. Some additional advantages of non-viral gene delivery systems are; good stability, low cost, targetability, delivery of a high amount of genetic materials. The aim of the study was to develop novel non-viral nanosystems suitable for gene delivery. Two formulations were developed for this purpose: water-in-oil microemulsion (ME) and solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN). The microemulsion was composed of Peceol, Tween 80, Plurol oleique, ethanol and water. The SLN was consisting of Precirol, Esterquat-1 (EQ1), Tween 80, Lecithin, ethanol and water. Characterization studies were carried out by measuring particle size, zeta potential, viscosity and pH. TEM imaging was performed on SLN formulations. Protection against DNase I degradation was examined. Cytotoxicity and transfection efficacy of selected formulations were tested on L929 mouse fibroblast cells. Particle sizes of complexes were below 100 nm and with high positive zeta potential. TEM images revealed that SLNs are spherical. The SLN:DNA complexes have low toxicity and good transfection ability. All results showed that the developed SLN formulations can be considered as suitable non-viral gene delivery systems

The Development of A Scale to Measure The Fear of Earthquake

This study aims to develop a scale to measure the fear level of individuals towards earthquakes. The population of the research consists of individuals who were directly and indirectly affected by the earthquake that occurred in Kahramanmaraş province of Turkey on 6 February 2023. The sample of the research consists of 357 people who voluntarily participated in the survey. Data were collected through an online survey. Experts’ opinions, literature review and pilot study were utilized in the creation of the scale items. Psychometric properties of the scale were analyzed by test-retest, calculation of internal consistency coefficient, exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and calculation of CR and AVE values. It was observed that the internal consistency levels, structure and adaptive levels of the statements on the scale of fear of earthquakes were very good. In addition, the validity and reliability of the scale were revealed through explanatory factor and confirmatory factor analyses. It was concluded that the earthquake fear scale is a measurement tool that can be used to measure the level of fear of earthquakes in Turkey and in the world

Protein sociology of ProA, Mip and other secreted virulence factors at the Legionella pneumophila surface

The pathogenicity of L. pneumophila, the causative agent of Legionnaires’ disease, depends on an arsenal of interacting proteins. Here we describe how surface-associated and secreted virulence factors of this pathogen interact with each other or target extra- and intracellular host proteins resulting in host cell manipulation and tissue colonization. Since progress of computational methods like AlphaFold, molecular dynamics simulation, and docking allows to predict, analyze and evaluate experimental proteomic and interactomic data, we describe how the combination of these approaches generated new insights into the multifaceted “protein sociology” of the zinc metalloprotease ProA and the peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerase Mip (macrophage infectivity potentiator). Both virulence factors of L. pneumophila interact with numerous proteins including bacterial flagellin (FlaA) and host collagen, and play important roles in virulence regulation, host tissue degradation and immune evasion. The recent progress in protein-ligand analyses of virulence factors suggests that machine learning will also have a beneficial impact in early stages of drug discovery

Decreased heart rate recovery may predict a high SYNTAX score in patients with stable coronary artery disease

An impaired heart rate recovery (HRR) has been associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events, cardiovascular, and all‐cause mortality. However, the diagnostic ability of HRR for the presence and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) has not been clearly elucidated. Our aim was to investigate the relationship between HRR and the SYNTAX (SYNergy between percutaneous coronary intervention with TAXus and cardiac surgery) score in patients with stable CAD (SCAD). A total of 406 patients with an abnormal treadmill exercise test and ≥50% coronary stenosis on coronary angiography were included. The HRR was calculated by subtracting the HR in the first minute of the recovery period from the maximum HR during exercise. The SYNTAX score ≥23 was accepted as high. Correlation of HRR with SYNTAX score and independent predictors of high SYNTAX score were determined. A high SYNTAX score was present in 172 (42%) patients. Mean HRR was lower in patients with a high SYNTAX score (9.8 ± 4.5 vs. 21.3 ± 9, p < 0.001). The SYNTAX score was negatively correlated with HRR (r: -0.580, p < 0.001). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, peripheral arterial disease (OR: 13.3; 95% CI: 3.120–34.520; p < 0.001), decreased HRR (OR: 0.780; 95% CI: 0.674–0.902; p = 0.001), peak systolic blood pressure (OR: 1.054; 95% CI: 1.023–1.087; p = 0.001), and peak HR (OR: 0.950; 95% CI: 0.923–0.977; p < 0.001) were found to be independent predictors of a high SYNTAX score. Our results showed that HRR is significantly correlated with the SYNTAX score, and a decreased HRR is an independent predictor of a high SYNTAX score in patients with SCAD

Spinal Metastasis as Presenting Feature of Follicular Type Thyroid Carcinoma: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Objective:Follicular type thyroid carcinoma (FTC) rarely presented with spinal metastasis. We aimed to report such a case and to review the literature.Method:A 45 year old male with L2 metastasis of FTC was reported, and other 26 cases were found in literature. Characteristics of the patients and tumors were evaluated.Results:Total 27 patients were 55.2±15 years of age, and male/female ratio was 12/15. Nineteen patients had paresis of extremities, 9 of them could not mobilize on admission. Total resection of the spinal tumor had been performed in 14 cases and subtotal resection in 5. Radioactive iodine treatment had been added in 20 cases with or without other adjuvant treatment. Twenty-three patients had been followed for 43.7±53.2 months. Only four of them died 214, 66, 36 and 7 months after their presentations. Out of other 19 cases, 13 had been neurologically normal. Type of surgery (total resection versus others) the only factor affecting outcome. In the patients treated with total resection, outcome had been statistically better.Conclusion:Spinal metastasis as initial finding is very rare in the patients with FTC. However, prognosis is quite well with total tumor resection and adjuvant treatment. This cancer type must be kept in mind for differential diagnosis and must be screened in the patients with spinal tumors

Pleiotropic Clostridioides difficile Cyclophilin PpiB Controls Cysteine-Tolerance, Toxin Production, the Central Metabolism and Multiple Stress Responses

The Gram-positive pathogen Clostridioides difficile is the main bacterial agent of nosocomial antibiotic associated diarrhea. Bacterial peptidyl-prolyl-cis/trans-isomerases (PPIases) are well established modulators of virulence that influence the outcome of human pathologies during infections. Here, we present the first interactomic network of the sole cyclophilin-type PPIase of C. difficile (CdPpiB) and show that it has diverse interaction partners including major enzymes of the amino acid-dependent energy (LdhA, EtfAB, Had, Acd) and the glucose-derived (Fba, GapA, Pfo, Pyk, Pyc) central metabolism. Proteins of the general (UspA), oxidative (Rbr1,2,3, Dsr), alkaline (YloU, YphY) and cold shock (CspB) response were found bound to CdPpiB. The transcriptional (Lrp), translational (InfC, RFF) and folding (GroS, DnaK) control proteins were also found attached. For a crucial enzyme of cysteine metabolism, O-acetylserine sulfhydrylase (CysK), the global transcription regulator Lrp and the flagellar subunit FliC, these interactions were independently confirmed using a bacterial two hybrid system. The active site residues F50, F109, and F110 of CdPpiB were shown to be important for the interaction with the residue P87 of Lrp. CysK activity after heat denaturation was restored by interaction with CdPpiB. In accordance, tolerance toward cell wall stress caused by the exposure to amoxicillin was reduced. In the absence of CdPpiB, C. difficile was more susceptible toward L-cysteine. At the same time, the cysteinemediated suppression of toxin production ceased resulting in higher cytotoxicity. In summary, the cyclophilin-type PPIase of C. difficile (CdPpiB) coordinates major cellular processes via its interaction with major regulators of transcription, translation, protein folding, stress response and the central metabolism

[4.3.1]Bicyclic FKBP Ligands Inhibit Legionella Pneumophila Infection by LpMip‐Dependent and LpMip‐Independent Mechanisms

Legionella pneumophila is the causative agent of Legionnaires’ disease, a serious form of pneumonia. Its macrophage infectivity potentiator (Mip), a member of a highly conserved family of FK506‐binding proteins (FKBPs), plays a major role in the proliferation of the gram‐negative bacterium in host organisms. In this work, we test our library of >1000 FKBP‐focused ligands for inhibition of LpMip. The [4.3.1]‐bicyclic sulfonamide turned out as a highly preferred scaffold and provided the most potent LpMip inhibitors known so far. Selected compounds were non‐toxic to human cells, displayed antibacterial activity and block bacterial proliferation in cellular infection‐assays as well as infectivity in human lung tissue explants. The results confirm [4.3.1]‐bicyclic sulfonamides as anti‐legionellal agents, although their anti‐infective properties cannot be explained by inhibition of LpMip alone

Pleiotropic Clostridioides difficile Cyclophilin PpiB Controls Cysteine-Tolerance, Toxin Production, the Central Metabolism and Multiple Stress Responses

The Gram-positive pathogen Clostridioides difficile is the main bacterial agent of nosocomial antibiotic associated diarrhea. Bacterial peptidyl-prolyl-cis/trans-isomerases (PPIases) are well established modulators of virulence that influence the outcome of human pathologies during infections. Here, we present the first interactomic network of the sole cyclophilin-type PPIase of C. difficile (CdPpiB) and show that it has diverse interaction partners including major enzymes of the amino acid-dependent energy (LdhA, EtfAB, Had, Acd) and the glucose-derived (Fba, GapA, Pfo, Pyk, Pyc) central metabolism. Proteins of the general (UspA), oxidative (Rbr1,2,3, Dsr), alkaline (YloU, YphY) and cold shock (CspB) response were found bound to CdPpiB. The transcriptional (Lrp), translational (InfC, RFF) and folding (GroS, DnaK) control proteins were also found attached. For a crucial enzyme of cysteine metabolism, O-acetylserine sulfhydrylase (CysK), the global transcription regulator Lrp and the flagellar subunit FliC, these interactions were independently confirmed using a bacterial two hybrid system. The active site residues F50, F109, and F110 of CdPpiB were shown to be important for the interaction with the residue P87 of Lrp. CysK activity after heat denaturation was restored by interaction with CdPpiB. In accordance, tolerance toward cell wall stress caused by the exposure to amoxicillin was reduced. In the absence of CdPpiB, C. difficile was more susceptible toward L-cysteine. At the same time, the cysteine-mediated suppression of toxin production ceased resulting in higher cytotoxicity. In summary, the cyclophilin-type PPIase of C. difficile (CdPpiB) coordinates major cellular processes via its interaction with major regulators of transcription, translation, protein folding, stress response and the central metabolism