An investigation of physical properties and user behaviours in children's parks/playgroundsÇocuk oyun alanlarının/parklarının fiziksel özelliklerinin ve kullanıcılarının davranışlarının incelenmesi

The purpose of this study is to investigate the physical properties and user (48-72 month children and adults accompanying them) behaviours in children's parks/playground. Participants of the study consist of 12 children (6 girls and 6 boys) selected on random basis from six different parks located in Kadıköy, Üsküdar, and Ataşehir districts in İstanbul. The qualitative research design was used in the study. Data were collected with structured interviews and naturalistic observations. During the observations in the parks, all activities and behaviors of children were recorded on an individual basis by using an observation form. Additionally, short interviews were conducted with children and their relatives (mother, father, grandmother, aunt) in the parks.The results of the study revealed that all of the parks have traditional playground equipments. Observation results of the study indicated that children do not play with each other out of making contact only to state their wishes in limited verbal communication. Moreover, the results obtained by interviews showed that adults bring their children to the parks to prevent them to get bored at home while children stated that they came the park to play. ÖzetBu araştırmanın amacı çocuk oyun alanlarının/parklarının fiziksel özelliklerinin ve kullanıcılarının (48-72 ay çocuklar ve onlara eşlik eden yetişkinler) davranışlarını incelemektir. Katılımcılar İstanbul ili Üsküdar, Kadıköy ve Ataşehir ilçelerindeki altı farklı parkta rastgele seçilen 12 çocuk (6 kız, 6 erkek)'tan oluşmaktadır. Nitel araştırma deseni kullanılarak gerçekleştirilen araştırmanın verilerinin toplanmasında ‘doğal ortamda gözlem’ ve ‘yapılandırılmış görüşme’ bir arada kullanılmıştır. Parklarda yapılan gözlemler sırasında çocukların tüm davranış ve eylemleri ayrı ayrı gözlem formuna kaydedilmiştir. Ayrıca çocuklar ve onlara eşlik eden yetişkinlerle kısa bir görüşme yapılmıştır.Araştırmadan elde edilen bulgular parkların tamamında geleneksel tipte oyun materyallerinin bulunduğunu ortaya koymaktadır. Gözlem sonucunda elde edilen veriler çocukların parkta birbirleri ile oyun oynamadıklarını ancak isteklerini belirtmek için sınırlı düzeyde sözel iletişimde bulunduklarını ortaya koymuştur. Görüşmelerden elde edilen veriler, yetişkinlerin evde sıkılmalarını önlemek için çocuklarını parka getirdiklerini; çocuklar ise oynamak için oyun parkına geldiklerini göstermektedir

Efficacy of a Tyrothricin-Containing Wound Gel in an Abrasive Wound Model for Superficial Wounds

Background: Topical preparations are a common treatment for superficialacute wounds, which at the least do not interfere with healing andideally result in enhanced wound healing irrespective of microbialcolonization. Objective: To examine the effects of a topicalantimicrobial gel and its vehicle on the wound healing of standardized,superficial abrasions. Methods: Thirty-three healthy volunteers wereenrolled in a double-blinded, randomized, intraindividual comparisonstudy. Three standardized, superficial abrasions were induced on theirforearms. A tyrothricin 0.1% gel (Tyrosur (R) gel; EngelhardArzneimittel GmbH & Co. KG, Niederdorfelden, Germany) and its vehiclewere randomly applied to two of the test areas, and one lesion remaineduntreated. Results: A significant improvement of wound healing was seenwith both tyrothricin 0.1% gel and its corresponding vehicle in theclinical assessment. The mean area under the curve (AUC) of woundhealing scores was the same for both preparations and the meanreepithelization scores were comparable at all test points over theentire 12 days. A lower mean AUC representing less reepithelization wasfound for the untreated test fields. Conclusion: The use of tyrothricin0.1% gel and its corresponding vehicle resulted in statisticallysignificant improved wound healing with an earlier onset of healing inparticular. Based on these results obtained using an abrasive woundmodel, it can be concluded that the addition of tyrothricin 0.1% to thegel vehicle did not interfere with the improved wound healing seen withthe vehicle alone

Lipidomics and Redox Lipidomics Indicate Early Stage Alcohol-Induced Liver Damage.

Alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD) is characterized by lipid accumulation and inflammation and can progress to cirrhosis and cancer in the liver. AFLD diagnosis currently relies on histological analysis of liver biopsies. Early detection permits interventions that would prevent progression to cirrhosis or later stages of the disease. Herein, we have conducted the first comprehensive time-course study of lipids using novel state-of-the art lipidomics methods in plasma and liver in the early stages of a mouse model of AFLD, i.e., Lieber-DeCarli diet model. In ethanol-treated mice, changes in liver tissue included up-regulation of triglycerides (TGs) and oxidized TGs and down-regulation of phosphatidylcholine, lysophosphatidylcholine, and 20-22-carbon-containing lipid-mediator precursors. An increase in oxidized TGs preceded histological signs of early AFLD, i.e., steatosis, with these changes observed in both the liver and plasma. The major lipid classes dysregulated by ethanol play important roles in hepatic inflammation, steatosis, and oxidative damage. Conclusion: Alcohol consumption alters the liver lipidome before overt histological markers of early AFLD. This introduces the exciting possibility that specific lipids may serve as earlier biomarkers of AFLD than those currently being used

Relationship between surface roughness of minerals and their flotation kinetics

Surface roughness is due to fluctuations around a surface solid which plays vital role in subsequent processes. Grinding by different mills causes main changes in surface roughness of particles, which these changes are very important for their flotation. In this study, surface roughness of quartz particles is determined with measuring of specific surface area of particles. The wettability characteristics of particles with different surface roughness were determined by measuring of flotation rate using the laboratory flotation cell. Results have shown that flotation rate of particles increases with increasing in surface roughness of particles, but this relationship is non linear. Finally, an empirical relationship between surface roughness (λ) and flotation kinetics constant (k) of particles such as k = a + bλ0.5 (ln(λ)) + cλ0.5 + dln(λ)/(λ2), has been determined, that a, b, c and d are constants related to experimental conditions and mineralogical properties of mineral