Understanding Trail Runners' Activity on Online Community Forums: An Inductive Analysis of Discussion Topics

Recreational trail runners often participate in online community forums where they can freely read posted messages, join discussions and/or introduce new discussion topics. This tool can enhance learning as runners connect with other trail runners and reflect on how they can better organize their own practice. Studying forum activity would provide greater insight into the relationship between field practice and dedicated forums. The aim of this study was therefore to detect the topics discussed online by trail runners in order to understand how they collectively look for solutions that help them adapt to issues that emerge during actual practice. The discussion topics (n = 171) on the forum hosted by the Raidlight brand were examined using inductive content analysis, which distinguished two general dimensions. The first dimension was training and had four first-order themes (i.e., "specific trail running sessions", "complementary trail running sessions". "training plans" and "specific questions about races") grouped into two second-order themes (i.e., "training session contents" and "structure and schedule"). The second dimension was health and had seven first-order themes (i.e., "tendinitis", "muscle issues", "foot issues", "sprains and fractures", "pain", "physiology" and "substances and practitioners") grouped into two second-order themes (i.e., "pain and injury" and "prevention"). The results indicate that the issues that trail runners discuss on forums are significant and that the successions of questions and solutions are a fruitful means for building, enriching and adjusting their activity as they cope with constraints. As a practical consequence, suggestions for improving such online platforms are made

A design support tool for variable building skins in the scope of sustainable architecture

Bu çalışmada, kullanıcıların farklı gereksinmelerine ve dış etmenlerin dinamik karakterine uyum sağlayabilen değişken yapı kabuklarına yönelik bir tasarım destek sistemi geliştirilmeye çalışılmıştır. Yöntemin hedef kitlesini, yapı kabuğu tasarımını yapan mimar ve mühendisler oluşturmaktadır. Tasarımcı, önerilen yöntemi kullanarak, kendi tasarımını uygulanmış örneklerden elde edeceği bilgiler doğrultusunda yönlendirebilme olanağına sahiptir. Çalışmada, sürdürülebilir mimarlığın yapı kabuğu alanında uygulanma stratejilerinden biri olarak ele alınan değişkenlik üzerinde durulmuştur. Yapı kabuklarında ortaya çıkan değişkenlik ihtiyacı açıklanmıştır. Değişken yapı kabukları için kullanılabilecek tasarım destek sisteminin ilk adımını, uygulamalardaki farklı alanlara ait değişkenlik/esneklik seçeneklerinin/çözümlerinin ayrı birer tabloda listelenmesi ve puanlandırılması oluşturmaktadır. Herhangi bir yapı elemanının karşılamakla görevli olduğu fonksiyonların/alt amaçların önem dereceleri aynı düzeyde olmayabilir. Öncelik gösteren fonksiyonlara/alt amaçlara bağıl ağırlık değerlerinin atanması, yöntemin ikinci adımını oluşturmaktadır. Önceki adımlarda elde edilen verileri kullanarak sistemin toplam değerinin ortaya çıkarıldığı son aşamada tüm alt amaç/fonksiyon puanları, değişkenlik puanları ve amaç/fonksiyon ağırlıkları bir tabloda gösterilir. Her amaç/fonksiyon değeri bu veriler kullanılarak elde edilir. Alt amaçları fonksiyonlar ve toplam amaç/fonksiyon değerlerindeki sapma, sistemlerdeki değişkenlik özelliklerinden dolayı ortaya çıkmaktadır. Değer sapma miktarının az olması, amaç/fonksiyon yönünden uygulanan değişkenliğin alt düzeyde, fazla olması ise üst düzeyde olduğunu belirtmektedir. Minimum ve maksimum değerler arasındaki fark, sistemin potansiyel değişkenliğinin amaçları/fonksiyonları karşılama kapasitesini göstermektedir. Anahtar Kelimeler: Yapı kabukları, cephe, sürdürülebilirlik, kullanıcı konforu, değişkenlik, tasarım.In this study, a design support tool for variable building skins which can be adapted to the dynamic character of external conditions and user requirements has been developed. The target users of this method are architects and engineers who design the building skin. The designer has the possibility to direct his/her design with the information which is obtained from the evaluation of the applied examples. Any building has four phases; that are production phase, occupancy phase, renovation-regain phase and destruction phase. In this study, the proposed method is developed for the use in the design stage focusing the occupancy phase. The variability of the building skins and the need for the variability has been researched. The functional variability areas of the building envelopes are; the permeability for air and sound, energy conservation/ gain, solar control and natural light. There can be two types of variability for the building element; the first one is the variability by which a component is replaced with another one, and the second one is the variability by which no replacement is occurred. The second one is divided into five groups; which is addition, removal, thicken, thinning and position/condition change. The proposed design support tool for variable building skins consists of three phase: In the first phase, variable alternatives/solutions for the objectives/functions have to be listed and scored in separated tables. A five point scale is used to give score for the alternatives/solutions according to the objectives/functions. In the second phase, every objective/function has to be weighted and given relative weighting scores. For giving relative weighting scores, each objective/function has to be compared against each other. In the last phase, the scores of the alternatives/solutions for the objectives/functions have to be multiplied by the relative weighting scores of the objectives/functions. In this manner, the sub-and total values of the alternatives/solutions according to the objectives/functions can be attained. The proposed method has been tested with ten built façade examples. The examples have been chosen from different countries and have different variable properties in point of the functional criteria of the building skins. The criteria are the permeability for air and sound, energy conservation/gain, solar control and natural light. The outcomes of the study can be summarized as follows: The difference of the values of the objectives/functions is occurred because of the variable properties of the systems. The amount of the value differences points out the capacity of the potential variability of the systems for meeting the objectives/functions. For optimum use of the capacity of the potential systems variability for meeting the objectives/functions, the users/occupants should be informed about the effects of the potential variability conditions of the systems for manual use and/or computer aided systems can be used for the adjustment of the systems. Generally, the priority of the objectives/functions of any building elements differs from each other. The designer should consider the conditions every time he/she is given any design work and give suitable weights for the objectives/functions. The number and details of the selected examples are determinant factors for the method because of the need for obtained information from the examples. In the light of this information, the designer can have the possibility to direct his/her design with effective decisions. In this study, the selected building skin examples have variability properties with no replacement, and the variability is achieved with position/condition change. In the future, when the elements and components are standardized and modularized, other types of variability can become prevalent and the capacity of potential variability increase. Despite of the proposed method was developed for the evaluation of the potential variability of the building skin; it contains properties for designers who aim to evaluate the effects of the variability of other building elements/components according to relevant objectives/functions. Keywords: Building skins, facade, sustainability, user comfort, variability, design

Multidetector computed tomography findings of an asymptomatic levoatrial cardinal vein with an interatrial course

A 57-year-old female patient with a family history of coronary artery diseaseadmitted to our hospital for the coronary check-up. A coronary angiographywas performed with ECG-gated 128 slice dual source computed tomography.Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) showed, in addition to the normalcoronary arteries, a persistent levoatrial cardinal vein (LCV) draining into vena cavasuperior. ECG-gated cardiac MDCT is a useful tool showing the origin, course, anddrainage site of LCV

Melitopalynological and antimicrobial properties of honeys from elaziğ(e Turkey)

In this study, the pollen analyses and antimicrobial effect were conducted in honey samples, which were collected from seven localities where apiculture has intensively been practiced. Upon pollen analyses of 16 different plants have been determined. The plants contributing nectar to honey samples in Elazig were found as follows; Fabaceae: Astragalus, Trifolium, Vicia, Onobrychis; Asteraceae: Centaurea triumfettii, Carduus, Xeranthemum, Helianthus annuus; Lamiaceae: Salvia, Mentha;Rosaceae: Rubus, Prunus;Vitaceae: Vitaceae: Vitis;Apiaceae: Daucus; Zygophyllaceae: Peganum harmala; Ranunculaceae: Ranunculus. The honey sapmles have inhibited the growth of bacteria used in our work at varying degrees. None of the samples had any antifungal effect against Candida albicans FMC-17 and Saccharomycescerevisiae UAG-10

TÜRK YAPI SEKTÖRÜNDE NANOTEKNOLOJİNİN YERİ

Nanoteknoloji, bir 21. yüzyıl teknolojisi olarak tüm dünyada birçok alanda tercih edilmekte ve kullanımı artarak devam etmektedir. Nanoteknoloji kullanımının, yakın gelecekte ülkelerin gelişmişlik düzeyinin göstergesi olacağı öngörülmektedir. Nanoteknoloji ile sürdürülebilirlik hedefine yaklaşmak daha az maliyetle mümkün olabileceği için ülkelerin yapı sektörlerindeki kullanımı daha fazla önem arz etmektedir. Bu çalışma ile Türk yapı sektöründe nanoteknoloji uygulamalarının tercih edilip edilmediği anlaşılmaya çalışılmıştır. Nanoteknolojik uygulamaların en çok hangi alanlarda ve üretim sistemlerinde tercih edildiğinin, yapı sektöründe çalışan mimar ve mühendisler ile yapılan anketler neticesinde ortaya çıkartılması amaçlanmıştır. Anketlerden elde edilen veriler SPSS programı ile analiz edilmiştir. Ayrıca, Türk yapı sektörünün nanoteknolojiye bakış açısı ve teknolojik yenilikleri yapı üretiminde kullanma potansiyeli tartışılmıştır.Nanoteknoloji, bir 21. yüzyıl teknolojisi olarak tüm dünyada birçok alanda tercih edilmekte ve kullanımı artarak devam etmektedir. Nanoteknoloji kullanımının, yakın gelecekte ülkelerin gelişmişlik düzeyinin göstergesi olacağı öngörülmektedir. Nanoteknoloji ile sürdürülebilirlik hedefine yaklaşmak daha az maliyetle mümkün olabileceği için ülkelerin yapı sektörlerindeki kullanımı daha fazla önem arz etmektedir. Bu çalışma ile Türk yapı sektöründe nanoteknoloji uygulamalarının tercih edilip edilmediği anlaşılmaya çalışılmıştır. Nanoteknolojik uygulamaların en çok hangi alanlarda ve üretim sistemlerinde tercih edildiğinin, yapı sektöründe çalışan mimar ve mühendisler ile yapılan anketler neticesinde ortaya çıkartılması amaçlanmıştır. Anketlerden elde edilen veriler SPSS programı ile analiz edilmiştir. Ayrıca, Türk yapı sektörünün nanoteknolojiye bakış açısı ve teknolojik yenilikleri yapı üretiminde kullanma potansiyeli tartışılmıştır

Systematic review with meta-analysis: cytokines in fibromyalgia syndrome

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis on cytokine levels in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Through December 2010 we systematically reviewed the databases PubMed, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO and screened the reference lists of 22 review articles for suitable original articles. Original articles investigating cytokines in patients with FMS were included. Data were extracted by two independent authors. Differences of the cytokine levels of FMS patients and controls were summarized by standardized mean differences (SMD) using a random effects model. Study quality was assessed applying methodological scores: modified Center of Evidence Based Medicine, Newcastle-Ottawa-Scale, and Würzburg Methodological Quality Score.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Twenty-five articles were included investigating 1255 FMS patients and 800 healthy controls. Data of 13/25 studies entered meta-analysis. The overall methodological quality of studies was low. The results of the majority of studies were not comparable because methods, investigated material, and investigated target cytokines differed. Systematic review of the selected 25 articles revealed that FMS patients had higher serum levels of interleukin (IL)-1 receptor antagonist, IL-6, and IL-8, and higher plasma levels of IL-8. Meta-analysis of eligible studies showed that FMS patients had higher plasma IL-6 levels compared to controls (SMD = -0.34 [-0.64, -0.03] 95% CI; p = 0.03). The majority of investigated cytokines were not different between patients and controls.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The pathophysiological role of cytokines in FMS is still unclear. Studies of higher quality and with higher numbers of subjects are needed.</p

Assessment of imidacloprid toxicity on reproductive organ system of adult male rats

In the current study it was aimed to investigate the toxicity of low doses of imidacloprid (IMI) on the reproductive organ systems of adult male rats. The treatment groups received 0.5 (IMI-0.5), 2 (IMI-2) or 8 mg IMI/kg body weight by oral gavage (IMI-8) for three months. The deterioration in sperm motility in IMI-8 group and epidydimal sperm concentration in IMI-2 and IMI-8 groups and abnormality in sperm morphology in IMI-8 were significant. The levels of testosterone (T) and GSH decreased significantly in group IMI-8 compared to the control group. Upon treatment with IMI, apoptotic index increased significantly only in germ cells of the seminiferous tubules of IMI-8 group when compared to control. Fragmentation was striking in the seminal DNA from the IMI-8 group, but it was much less obvious in the IMI-2 one. IMI exposure resulted in elevation of all fatty acids analyzed, but the increases were significant only in stearic, oleic, linoleic and arachidonic acids. The ratios of 20:4/20:3 and 20:4/18:2 were decreased and 16:1n-9/16:0 ratio was increased. In conclusion, the present animal experiments revealed that the treatment with IMI at NOAEL dose-levels caused deterioration in sperm parameters, decreased T level, increased apoptosis of germ cells, seminal DNA fragmentation, the depletion of antioxidants and change in disturbance of fatty acid composition. All these changes indicate the suppression of testicular function