First-Principle Investigations of (Ti1-xVx)(2)FeGa.lloys. A Study on Structural, Magnetic, Electronic, and Elastic Properties

The structural, magnetic, electronic and elastic properties of ternary and quaternary (Ti1-xVx)(2)FeGa alloys with inverse-Heusler (XA) structure were investigated at x = 0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, and 1. The crystal structures of (Ti1 - xVx)(2)FeGa compounds are cubic (space group: F (3) over barm) with Hg2CuTi prototype for x = 0 and 1. At x = 0.5 the structure is also cubic (space group: F (3) over barm) with LiMgPdSn protype, while it is tetragonal (space group: P m2) at x = 0.25 and 0.75. Calculated optimized lattice parameters (a and c), bulk modulus (B), and elastic constants (C-ij) are consistent with the available data in the literature. Total and partial magnetic moments of (Ti1 - xVx)(2)FeGa alloys were obtained. An increase in the total magnetic moment values were observed upon addition of V to the Ti2FeGa alloy. From spin polarized band calculations, Ti2FeGa, (Ti0.75V0.25)(2)FeGa, TiVFeGa, and V2FeGa have a minority-spin energy gap of 0.65, 0.38, 0.83, and 0.64 eV, respectively, and they are guessed as half-metallic ferromagnets. According to the results of second-order elastic constants, these compounds met the Born mechanical stability criteria. In addition, according to Pugh criteria, it was found that they have a ductile structure and show anisotropic behavior

Intraperitoneal drain placement and outcomes after elective colorectal surgery: international matched, prospective, cohort study

Despite current guidelines, intraperitoneal drain placement after elective colorectal surgery remains widespread. Drains were not associated with earlier detection of intraperitoneal collections, but were associated with prolonged hospital stay and increased risk of surgical-site infections.Background Many surgeons routinely place intraperitoneal drains after elective colorectal surgery. However, enhanced recovery after surgery guidelines recommend against their routine use owing to a lack of clear clinical benefit. This study aimed to describe international variation in intraperitoneal drain placement and the safety of this practice. Methods COMPASS (COMPlicAted intra-abdominal collectionS after colorectal Surgery) was a prospective, international, cohort study which enrolled consecutive adults undergoing elective colorectal surgery (February to March 2020). The primary outcome was the rate of intraperitoneal drain placement. Secondary outcomes included: rate and time to diagnosis of postoperative intraperitoneal collections; rate of surgical site infections (SSIs); time to discharge; and 30-day major postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo grade at least III). After propensity score matching, multivariable logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards regression were used to estimate the independent association of the secondary outcomes with drain placement. Results Overall, 1805 patients from 22 countries were included (798 women, 44.2 per cent; median age 67.0 years). The drain insertion rate was 51.9 per cent (937 patients). After matching, drains were not associated with reduced rates (odds ratio (OR) 1.33, 95 per cent c.i. 0.79 to 2.23; P = 0.287) or earlier detection (hazard ratio (HR) 0.87, 0.33 to 2.31; P = 0.780) of collections. Although not associated with worse major postoperative complications (OR 1.09, 0.68 to 1.75; P = 0.709), drains were associated with delayed hospital discharge (HR 0.58, 0.52 to 0.66; P < 0.001) and an increased risk of SSIs (OR 2.47, 1.50 to 4.05; P < 0.001). Conclusion Intraperitoneal drain placement after elective colorectal surgery is not associated with earlier detection of postoperative collections, but prolongs hospital stay and increases SSI risk

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Systematic distribution of recent benthic foraminifera from the thermal region of Çeşme-Ilica Bay (Izmir) [©Ceşma-Ilica Koyu (Izmir) termal bölgesi güncel bentik foraminiferlerinin sistematik dagilimi]

Benthic foraminiferal content of the sediment samples from the thermal region located at the llica Bay and surroundings was taxonomically investigated. A total of 40 calcareous foraminiferal species from the 12 families and 23 genera have been described. Some thermal springs of the llica Bay and surroundings with a temperature of 42°C-62°C, set up a various ecological environment. As a result of this event, some peneroplids which are not able to carry on their life under the Aegean Sea conditions wityh a temperature of 9°C -26°C and dissolved oxygen content of 4-10 ml/l appear. These peneroplid species of Coscinospira hemprichii Ehrenberg, Laevipeneroplis karreri (Wiesner), Peneroplis pertusus (Forskal) and Peneroplis planatus (Fichtel and Moll) were abundantly found together with the Sorites orbiculus Ehrenberg and other benthic foraminifera in the area under the thermal influence

Holocene geologic history of the Golden Horn (Istanbul, NW Turkey) based on foraminiferal data

We evaluated foraminiferal data from Holocene borehole samples of the Golden Horn (Istanbul, NW Turkey) and the extrinsic factors controlling the distribution of microfaunas of the seaway system connecting the Golden Horn to the Black and Aegean seas. Samples were collected along two different transects: one transect to the west between Unkapani{dotless} and Azapkapi{dotless} and a second transect to the east between Eminönü and Karaköy. Foraminiferal species distribution, abundance, and diversity exhibit a range of conditions from brackish to shallow-water marine paleoenvironments during the last 7400 years. The lithologic composition, sedimentologic features and palynologic data indicate that freshwater paleoenvironments existed before the present marine conditions. Haurinid species are more abundant than rotaliids to the west (Unkapani-Azapkapi{dotless} transect), where gypsum crystals are also present; rotaliids dominate to the east, while textulariids are rare. Some typical foraminifera such as Laevipeneroplis, Peneroplis, Sorites and Amphistegina are of Mediterranean origin. Observations on Middle and Upper Holocene sediments prior to the last century were related to non-polluted sediments including foraminifera and other fauna. However, anthropogenic effects during the last century caused the fauna to disappear from the polluted area. Foraminifera are now being found again in the Golden Horn embayment after the institution of anti-pollution measures. © 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Amphisorus hemprichii Ehrenberg (Rhizopoda, foraminifera) along the Antalya coast

The benthic foraminifer Amphisorus hemprichii Ehrenberg is widely distributed in the Indo-Pacific. However, submarine surveys revealed large populations of A. hemprichii along the southwestern coasts of Antalya, Turkey, between Kalkan and Kekova. It is also present in the Red Sea which suggests that this species recently experienced Lessepsian migration. It inhabits mostly rocky substrate between 8-18 m water depth, but is also found epiphytically on Posidonia oceanica (Linné) Delile and Halophila stipulacea (Forsskål) Ascherson. We found rich populations of this species with individuals as large as 1cm in diameter in Kaş and Kekova. This indicates that environmental conditions are suitable to promote the survival of this species along the southwestern coasts of Turkey

Foraminiferal content of the benthogenic sediments in the Iskenderun Bay [·Iskenderun Körfezi'ndeki bentojenik sedimanlarin foraminifer içerigi]

Benthogenic sediments, generally composed of a variety of benthic organism remains, contain more than 30%C biogenic carbonate. Biogenic calcareous sediments are extensively found along the southern part and towards the northern part (from Akinci Cape to Yumurtalik) of the Iskenderun Bay. Taxonomy of the recent benthic foraminifera of the nineteen samples taken from the benthogenic sediments were studied and micropaleontologically investigated in the laboratory. A total of 147 foraminiferal species from 43 families and 87 genera were described. Although the presence of the agglutinated foraminifera, such as Spiroplectinella sagittula (d'Orbigny), Bigenerina nodosaria d'Orbigny, Textularia bocki Hoeglund, Textularia truncata Hoeglund, Siphotextularia concava (Karrer), Pseudoclavulina crustata Cushman, Clavulina angularis d'Orbigny, and Reophax sp. belong to 5 families and 7 species, calcareous foraminifera are represented by 38 families and 140 species. Eight benthic fossil assemblages, dominated by carbonate species, were described in this study. Ammonia tepida Cushman, Elphidium crispum (Linné), Peneroplis pertusus (Forskal), Asterigerinata mamilla (Williamson), Adelosina cliarensis (Heron-Allen and Earland) and Amphistegina lobifera Larsen are characteristics of shallow water. However, Globocassidulina subglobosa (Brady) and Bulimina elongata d'Orbigny characterize deep water assemblages. On the basis of the examinations on the samples from the regions affected by dense anthropogenic activity, morphological abnormalities were observed on some foraminiferal species, such as; Adelosina duthiersi, Adelosina intricata, Ammonia tepida, Cibicides advenum, Elphidium crispum, Hauerina diversa, Peneroplis pertusus, Peneroplis planatus, Sigmoilinita edwarsi, Sigmoilopsis schlumbergeri, Siphonaperta agglutinans, Sorites orbiculus, Spiroloculina angulata, Spiroloculina angulosa and Triloculina marioni

Some alien foraminifers along the Aegean and southwestern coasts of Turkey

Many vertebrate and invertebrate species of Indo-Pacific origin are observed in the Eastern Mediterranean. These alien species were likely transported via ballast waters or by attaching themselves onto vessels. In addition to that, many species were carried into the Mediterranean for aquaculture purposes or inadvertantly introduced from public aquariums. More importantly, man-made canals, especially the Suez Canal, serve as conduits to transportation of species between ecosystems. Many foraminifer species native to the Indo-Pacific were introduced into the Eastern Mediterranean via the Suez Canal. Some of these genera coexist with other benthic foraminifers in the Bay of Haifa, the Gulf of Iskenderun, southwestern Antalya, eastern Aegean Sea and northeast of Crete. We identified 26 genera and 32 species of Recent Foraminifera common to the Indo-Pacific and some to the Atlantic Ocean in our samples collected from various depths in the Aegean and Southwestern Mediterranean coasts of Turkey and the Gulf of Iskenderun. The absence of species native to Atlantic waters in the western Mediterranean suggests that their presence in the eastern Mediterranean must be of Indo-Pacific origin rather than Atlantic