Minimal Extension of Einstein's Theory: The Quartic Gravity

We study structure of solutions of the recently constructed minimal extensions of Einstein's gravity in four dimensions at the quartic curvature level. The extended higher derivative theory, just like Einstein's gravity, has only a massless spin-two graviton about its unique maximally symmetric vacuum. The extended theory does not admit the Schwarzschild or Kerr metrics as exact solutions, hence there is no issue of Schwarzschild type singularity but, approximately, outside a source, spherically symmetric metric with the correct Newtonian limit is recovered. We also show that for all Einstein space-times, square of the Riemann tensor (the Kretschmann scalar or the Gauss-Bonnet invariant) obeys a non-linear scalar Klein-Gordon equation.Comment: 12 pages, 2 figures, typos corrected, version to appear in PR

A letter to the Master Clinician

In this commentary, the author writes a letter to the Master Clinician about his concerns regarding the teaching responsibilities of current faculty members during ward rounds. This short essay highlights the transition that has been noticed in medical training in the last decade

Mezbahalarda kesilen ruminant karaciğerlerinden ve koyun abortuslarından izole edilen campylobacter türlerine karşı antibiyotik dirençliliği

The presence of Campylobacter spp. obtained from clinically healthy 50 sheep, goats and cattle slaughtered in slaughterhouses in Afyonkarahisar and Kutahya provinces and 44 aborted ovine fetuses obtained from the same region was investigated in this study. The subtypes were isolated by culture methods and identified by API Campy (Biomerieux, France) test kits. Campylobacter spp. was isolated from 7 samples (15.91%) out of 44 aborted ovine fetuses. After identification of Campylobacter spp., it was determined that 5 samples (71.43%) out of 7 were C. fetus subsp. fetus (71.43%) and 2 samples were C. jejuni (28.57%). Out of the 50 liver samples, Campylobacter spp. was isolated from 3 ovine livers (6%) and 1 goat liver (2%). Three of the isolates were identified as C. jejuni (75%) and 1 isolate as C. coli (25%). Campylobacter spp. was not isolated from cattle livers. Resistance rates for ciprofloxacin and tetracycline were 45.5% and 27.3% for erythromycin and 9.1% for ampicillin. No resistance was determined against gentamycin, chloramphenicol and streptomycin. The rate of susceptibility to antibiotics used was 72.7% for ampicillin, 54.5% for erythromycin, 90.9% for gentamycin, 100% for chloramphenicol, 72.7% for streptomycin and 27.3 % for ciprofloxacin and tetracycline.Bu çalışmada, Afyonkarahisar ve Kütahya illerinden mezbahalarda sağlıklı olarak kesilen koyun, keçi ve sığırlardan alınan 50’şer adet karaciğer örneği ile yine aynı bölgeden temin edilen 44 aborte koyun fetüsünde, Campylobacter spp. varlığı arandı. Kültür tekniğiyle izole edilen suşlar, API Campy (Biomerieux, France) test kitleriyle identifiye edildi. İncelenen 44 aborte koyun fetüsünden, 7 adet (%15,91) Campylobacter spp. izole edildi. İdentifikasyonları yapıldığında, örneklerin 5’inin C. fetus subsp. fetus (%71,43), 2’sinin C. jejuni (%28,57) olduğu tespit edildi. Ellişer karaciğer örneğinden, 3 koyun karaciğerinde (%6) ve 1 keçi karaciğerinde (%2) Campylobacter spp. izole edildi. İzolatların 3’ünün C. jejuni (%75), 1’inin C. coli (%25) olduğu tespit edildi. Sığır karaciğerlerinden ise Campylobacter spp. izole edilemedi. Elde edilen 11 adet Campylobacter izolatının analizinde siprofloksasin ve tetrasikline %45,5, eritromisine %27,3, ampisiline %9,1 oranında dirençlilik tespit edildi. Gentamisin, kloramfenikol ve streptomisine karşı ise dirençlilik gözlenmedi. Kullanılan antibiyotikler için tespit edilen duyarlılık oranları, ampisiline %72,7, eritromisine %54,5, gentamisine %90,9, kloramfenikole %100, streptomisine %72.7, siprofloksasin ve tetrasikline %27,3 olarak bulundu

The phytosociology, ecology, and plant diversity of new plant communites in Central Anatolia (Turkey)

The Central Anatolian steppe and forest-steppe vegetation have diverse site conditions and small-scale plant diversity. For this reason, identification of plant communities is important for understanding their ecology and nature conservation. This study aims to contribute the syntaxonomical classification of the Central Anatolian steppe and forest-steppe vegetation. The study area is situated among Güzelyurt, Narköy, and Bozköy (Niğde) in the east of Aksaray province of Central Anatolia in Turkey. The vegetation data were collected using the phytosociological method of Braun-Blanquet and classified using TWINSPAN. The ecological characteristics of the units were investigated with Detrended Correspondence Analysis. The steppe association was included under Onobrychido armenae-Thymetalia leucostomi and Astragalo microcephali-Brometea tomentelli. The forest-steppe association was classified under Quercion anatolicae and Quercetea pubescentis. The riparian association is the first poplar-dominated one described in Turkey, was also classified in Alno glutinosae-Populetea albae and in the alliance Populion albae

Staphylococcus aureus Genotypes of Subclinical Bovine Mastitis Milk in the Middle Western Anatolia

Background: Staphylococcus aureus is the most common etiological pathogen of bovine mastitis. Subclinical mastitis is characterised by a non-alteration of the milk but can cause food poisoning by production of enterotoxins in milk. Knowledge about the genetic variability within different S. aureus populations would help in the design of efficient treatments to prevent subclinical mastitis and provide useful data for epidemiological studies. The aim of this study was to characterize the genetic nature of the S. aureus cultured from subclinical bovine mastitis occurring in 16 farms in the middle western Anatolia. Methods: Two hundred sixty eight milk samples positive with California Mastitis Test (CMT) suggesting the subclinical mastitis of lactating cows in 16 different farms in the Middle Western Anatolia were collected and S. aureus were isolated. Identification was carried out by traditional tests and ribotyping confirmed the identification. Staphylococcal Enterotoxins (SE) were detected and typed by Staphylococcal Enterotoxin Test Reversed Passive Latex Agglutination (SET-RPLA) test kit. Genetic characterisation of the isolates was carried out by both ribotyping and pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE).Results: A total of 77 isolates of S. aureus were purified and analysed by both biochemical identification and genotyping. Only 4 isolates (5.19 %) of S. aureus were recorded as enterotoxin positive. Genetic characterisation of the isolates was carried out by ribotyping revealed eight ribotypes while pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was more discriminative representing 19 pulsotypes.Conclusion: This study shows no significant association between enterotoxin production, ribogroup and pulsotype profile of the S. aureus isolates collected from the Middle Western Anatolia

Screening for anti-quorum sensing and anti-biofilm activity in viscum album l. extracts and its biochemical composition

Many opportunistic pathogenic bacteria use the Quorum Sensing (QS) system to coordinate their virulence expressions. Thus, QS can likely be a new approach to control bacterial infections. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial, anti-biofilm, and anti-quorum sensing activities of ethanol, chloroform, and dichloromethane: methanol extracts of leaf, stem, and fruits of the European mistletoe Viscum album L. on 2 Gram-positive and 7 Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria. The extracts at concentrations ranging from 50 to 250mg/ml were tested depending on the extracts of the plant parts and the test bacteria. The extract with 50mg/ml concentration, in which no antimicrobial activity was observed, was used for anti-quorum sensing and antibiofilm studies. The dichloromethane: methanol extracts were found to show the highest biological activities. QS activities of the plant extracts were also determined using the recently established Chromobacterium violaceum CV026 reporter strain and the signaling molecule N-(ß-ketocaproyl)-L-homoserine lactone (3-oxo-C6-HSL) agar well diffusion assay. Biofilm was quantified using the microtiter plate test and the crystal violet assay. Anti-microbial, anti-biofilm, and anti-quorum sensing activity of leaf and stem extracts showed higher efficiency than fruit extracts. It was concluded that the extracts of V. album had the potential to treat microbial infections by biofilm inhibition or inhibition of QS.Fırsatçı patojenik bakteriler, virülans ifadelerini koordine etmek için Quorum Sensing (QS) sistemini kullanır. Dolayısıyla QS sistemi, bakteriyel enfeksiyonların kontrolü için yeni bir yaklaşım olarak tercih edilebilir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, 2 Gram-pozitif, 7 Gram-negatif patojenik bakteri üzerinde analiz edilen Viscum album L. bitkisinin gövde, yaprak ve meyve gibi bölümlerine ait etanol, kloroform ve diklorometan:metanol ekstraktlarının antimikrobiyal, anti-biyofilm ve anti-quorum sensing aktivitelerinin değerlendirilmesidir. Kullanılan bitki parçası ekstraktına ve test mikroorganizmasına bağlı olarak, 50- 250mg/ml arasında değişen konsantrasyonlarda ekstraklar test edildi. 50mg/ml’lik konsantrasyonda antimikrobiyal aktivite görülmediği için anti-quorum sensing ve antibiyofilm çalışmalarında bu konsantrasyon kullanılmıştır. En iyi biyolojik aktivitenin görüldüğü çözücünün ise diklorometan:metanol olduğu saptandı. Ekstraktların anti-quorum sensing aktiviteleri, Chromobacterium violaceum CV026 biyosensör suşu ve sinyal molekülü N- (β-ketokaproil) -L-homoserin lakton (3-okso-C6- HSL)’nün bulunduğu besiyerinde agar difüzyon deneyi kullanılarak da tespit edilmiştir. Biyofilm, mikrotiter plaka testi ve kristal viyole kullanılarak ölçülmüştür. Yaprak ve gövde kısımlarının antimikrobiyal, anti-biyofilm ve anti-quorum sensing aktivitesi, meyve ekstraktına göre daha yüksek verimlilik göstermiştir. V. album özütlerinin, biyofilm ya da QS inhibisyonu yoluyla mikrobiyal enfeksiyonları tedavi etme potansiyeline sahip olduğu kanısına varılmıştır

A hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis case with newly defined UNC13D (C.175G>C; p.Ala59Pro) mutation and a rare complication

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) represents a severe hyperinflammatory condition with cardinal symptoms of prolonged fever, cytopenias, hepatosplenomegaly, and hemophagocytosis by activated, morphologically benign macrophages with impaired function of natural killer cells and cytotoxic T lymphocytes. A 2-month-old girl, who was admitted with fever, was diagnosed with HLH and her genetic examination revealed a newly defined mutation in the UNC13D (c.175G>C; p.Ala59Pro) gene. She was treated with dexamethasone, etoposide, and intrathecal methotrexate. During the second week of treatment, after three doses of etoposide, it was noticed that there was a necrotic plaque lesion on the soft palate. Pathologic examination of debrided material in PAS and Grocott staining revealed lots of septated hyphae, which was consistent with aspergillosis infection. Etoposide was stopped and amphotericin B treatment was given for six weeks. HLH 2004 protocol was completed to eight weeks with cyclosporine A orally. There was no patient with invasive aspergillosis infection as severe as causing palate and nasal septum perforation during HLH therapy. In immuncompromised patients, fungal infections may cause nasal septum perforation and treatment could be achieved by antifungal therapy and debridement of necrotic tissue. © 2015 Turkish Society of Hematology. All rights reserved

The Evaluation of Students’ Parents’ Attitudes in Rural and Urban Areas towards Technology and The Use of Technology in Classes: The Sample of Kutahya

In today's world technology is an indispensable part of life, the use of technology in teaching and learning environment is an important place. The purpose of this study, examine the students’ parents’ attitudes in rural and urban areas towards technology and the use of technology in classes. This research is in the screening model is a descriptive study was carried out with the relational survey model type. The sample was selected stratified purposeful sampling method. The participants are 644 students’ parents in rural and urban areas in Kutahya. “The scale of attitudes towards technology and use of technology in classes” developed by Kenar (2012) were used as data collection tool. The data were analyzed through SPSS 16.0 program. Performed in this study, parents of students living in both rural and urban areas has a positive attitude towards technology and the use of technology in classes and findings indicated that between the Students’ Parents’ Attitudes In Rural And Urban Areas is significantly differed. The studies can be performed to increase awareness of parents’ for this issue.Araştırmanın amacı; kırsal ve kentsel kesimdeki öğrenci velilerinin teknoloji ve derslerde teknoloji kullanımına yönelik tutumlarını değerlendirmektir. Bu araştırma tarama modelinde olup, betimsel türde ilişkisel tarama modeli ile gerçekleştirilmiş bir çalışmadır. Örneklem, seçkisiz olmayan örnekleme yöntemlerimden tabakalı amaçsal örnekleme yöntemiyle seçilmiştir. Araştırmanın örneklemini Kütahya ilinin kentsel ve kırsal kesiminde yaşayan toplam 13 okuldan 644 5. sınıf öğrenci velisi oluşturmaktadır. Velilerden 346’ sı kentsel kesimde yaşarken 298’ i kırsal kesimde yaşamaktadır. Araştırmada veri toplama aracı olarak Kenar (2012) tarafından geliştirilen likert tipi bir ölçek olan “Teknoloji ve derslerde teknoloji kullanımına yönelik veli tutum ölçeği” kullanılmıştır. Veriler SPSS 16.0 programı kullanılarak analiz edilmiştir. Analiz sonuçlarına göre kentsel kesimdeki veliler ile kırsal kesimdeki velilerin teknoloji ve derslerde teknoloji kullanımına yönelik tutumları arasında kentsel kesimdeki öğrenci velileri lehine anlamlı bir fark olduğu sonucuna ulaşılmıştır. Velilerin bu konudaki farkındalıklarını arttırmak için çalışmalar yapılabilir

Türkiye'de yeni sığır mastitis ajanları ve antimikrobiyal duyarlılıklarının araştırılması

There are new emerging cattle mastitis agents that have become a major burden economically on the dairy industry because of their negatively affects on production and quality in dairy cattle farming in Turkey,. To overcome this emerged problem, antimicrobials are adopted in this sector to prevent and administrate mastitis and other bacterial infections affecting cattle in the country. Nevertheless, the occurrence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is increasing in both animal and human contaminants. The occurrence and features of AMR of the emerging cattle mastitis agents in dairy cattle in Turkey, have been manifested. As a result, the goal of this research was to assess secluded emerging cattle mastitis agents in Turkey and to appraise the antimicrobial susceptibility of these pathogens. Sixty one milk samples from cattle wwith mastitis were collected between 2014 and 2018 for assessment of clinical mastitis in diagnostic and analysis laboratory of Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Afyon Kocatepe University. Twenty five microorganism species arised as cattle mastitis agents were assessed in these milk samples. The outcomes of the present study identified the necessity for advancements in antimicrobial stewardship as well as infection administration plans in Turkish farms to decrease the occurence of AMR. VITEK Compact® 2 systemmethod showed that Streptococcus uberis had the maximum AMR while Globicatella sulfidifaciens had the minimum AMR. The study depicts that the number of cattle mastitis is directly proportional to the size of the herd. Keywords: Cattle, mastitis, new agent, antimicrobial resistance.Türkiye‟deki sütçü ineklerinin üretim ve kalitesine olumsuz yönde etkileyen ve süt endüstrisine ekonomik olarak büyük bir zarar oluşturan yeni ortaya çıkan sığır mastitis etkenleri bulunmaktadır. Giderek artan bu sorunun üstesinden gelmek için, bu sektörde mastitis ve ülkedeki inekleri etkileyen diğer bakteriyel enfeksiyonların önlenmesi ve yönetilmesi amacıyla antimikrobiyaller kullanılmaktadır. Bununla birlikte, antimikrobiyal direncin (AMR) oluşumu hem hayvan hem de insan kontaminantlarında artmaktadır. Türkiye‟deki sütçü ineklerinden ortaya çıkan sığır mastitis etkenlerinde antimikrobiyal direncin oluşumu ve özellikleri açıkça ortaya konmuştur. Sonuç olarak, bu araştırmanın amacı, Türkiye'de ilk kez tespit edilen inek mastitis etkenlerini ve bu patojenlerin antimikrobiyal duyarlılığını değerlendirmektir. Bu araştırmada Afyon Kocatepe Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Teşhis ve Analiz Laboratuarında klinik mastitisin değerlendirilmesi için 2014-2018 yılları arasında 61 adet mastitisli süt örneği incelenmiştir. Bu süt örneklerinden Türkiye‟de ilk kez izole edilen 25 sığır mastitis ajanı değerlendirilmiştir.. Mevcut araştırmanın sonucu, AMR'nin gelişimini azaltmak için Türkiye çiftliklerindeki enfeksiyon yönetiminin planlanmasının yanı sıra antimikrobiyal geliştirilmesinin gerekliliğini de ortaya koymuştur. VITEK Compact® 2 yöntemi Streptococcus uberis'in maksimum AMR, Globicatella sulfidifaciens‟in ise minimum AMR geliştirdiğini göstermiştir. Çalışma, ortaya çıkan sığır mastitis sayısının doğrudan sürü büyüklüğü ile orantılı olduğunu da ortaya koymuştur