Mass size distribution and source identification of particulate matter metal components at four urban sites and a background site of Istanbul

In this study, the size distribution characteristics and metal contents of particulate matter (PM) have been determined. In this scope, PM sampling has been done at five stations in Istanbul. PM filter samples were collected for eight different sizes using the Anderson cascade impactor. PM filters were decomposed and analyzed for 20 metals. The highest median concentration for Fe, Ca, K, and Mg, known as soil metals, were observed as follows: Fe and Ca were observed at Goztepe station (1.20 and 8.28 mu g/m(3)), K was observed at Kilyos station (0.33 mu g/m(3)), and Mg was observed at Avcilar station (0.37 mu g/m(3)). The highest median concentrations for Zn, Cu, Pb, Ni, Cr, V, As, Se, Co, and Cd, known as anthropogenic metals, were observed at Avcilar, Goztepe, and Besiktas stations. Although the lowest metal concentrations was determined at Kilyos stations that was selected as the urban background. The enrichment factors (EFs) of most metals in the fine PM is higher than those in the coarse mode. According to the factor analyses, the most important emission source was observed to be industrial facilities at Avcilar; traffic at Besiktas; traffic and domestic heating at Goztepe; and domestic heating, sea salt aerosols, and ship traffic (in the Bosphorus Channel of Istanbul) at Rasathane

Hypnotika und Sedativa

TREND: Auffälligste Entwicklung bei den Schlafmitteln ist der seit 25 Jahren zu beobachtende starke Verordnungsrückgang um 80 %. Die Rückgänge betrugen im vergangenen Jahr bei den Benzodiazepinen wiederum über 10 % und bei den Benzodiazepinagonisten Zolpidem und Zopiclon 4 %. Die Verordnungen von Melatonin haben wiederum sehr deutlich zugenommen. Pflanzliche Hypnotika sind nur noch mit einem homöopathischen Präparat vertreten. BEWERTUNG: Die Umschichtung zu den kurzwirksamen Z-Substanzen ist durch ihre selektivere hypnotische Wirkung und das vermutlich geringere Abhängigkeitspotenzial gerechtfertigt. Insgesamt zeigen die Zahlen, dass nur ein Bruchteil der Patienten mit Schlafstörungen Hypnotika verordnet bekommt. Nach neueren Metaanalysen sind verhaltenstherapeutische Verfahren wirksam und insgesamt der Behandlung mit Hypnotika überlegen

Nonsurgical periodontal therapy with/without diode laser modulates metabolic control of type 2 diabetics with periodontitis: a randomized clinical trial

In order to evaluate whether nonsurgical periodontal treatment with/without diode laser (DL) decontamination improves clinical parameters, the levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM), and vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM) in gingival crevicular fluid and metabolic control (HbA1c) in chronic periodontitis (CP) patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2). Sixty patients with DM2 and CP were randomly assigned into two groups to receive scaling and root planing (SRP, n = 30) or SRP followed by diode laser application (SRP + DL, n = 30). Clinical periodontal and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) parameters were assessed at baseline, 1, and 3 months after periodontal treatment. HbA1c levels were evaluated at baseline and 3 months post-therapy. Total amounts of cytokines and molecules were analyzed by ELISA. Nonsurgical periodontal treatment with/without DL appeared to improve clinical, biochemical parameters, and glycemic control in DM2 patients (BMI < 25 kg/m2) with CP. The SRP + DL group provided better reductions in probing depth (PD) and clinical attachment level (CAL) parameters compared to the SRP group (P < 0.05). Significant reductions were found in the total amounts of GCF levels of IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, ICAM, and VCAM after treatment (P < 0.05). HbA1c levels decreased significantly at 3 months after treatment (P < 0.05). SRP + DL reduced HbA1c levels more significantly compared to SRP alone (0.41 vs. 0.22 %, P < 0.05). SRP, especially in combination with DL, shows improvement of glycemic control for DM2 patients with CP

Performance and acceptance when using tablets as a multiple document learning tool: do application and guidance matter?

International audienceAbstract This study addressed whether an application adapted to working with multiple documents implemented in an iPad Pro tablet would promote students’ multiple document comprehension and acceptance of tablets as a multiple document learning tool relative to controls who used a traditional application adapted to sequential reading of single documents. Results indicated that students using the multiple document reading application outperformed the control students in terms of comprehension and also worked more efficiently on the assigned multiple document task, but only if given explicit guidance in selecting, organizing, and integrating information by utilizing the functions of the application. Still, after task completion, the more effective and efficient students guided in using the functions of the multiple document reading application displayed much less acceptance of tablets as a multiple document learning tool than did the control students. We discuss possible explanations for this intriguing performance-acceptance paradox and suggest some avenues for future research in this area