The Effect of Additives on Structural and Magnetic Properties of CoNi Alloy Thin Film Coatings Produced by Electrodeposition

Electrodeposition of metals and alloys may contain one or more organic or inorganic additives. Additives it affects the surface morphology, grainsize and crystal structure of the thin film coatings. In this study, CoNi alloy thin film coatings were produced by electrodeposition without additives and using additives (organic coumarin and thiourea). CoNi alloy thin film coating produced without additional additive; It was found that the crystal structure was face centered cubic (fcc) and the cobalt content of the coating was 67.94%. When coumarin was added to the bath composition, cobalt in the film content decreased to 43.82%, decreased to 34.33% when thiourea was added, and both films showed amorphous properties. The magnetic field applied was changed between -75000 Oe to +75000 Oe, magnetization values were measured and hysteresis curves were obtained. It was seen that the additives had a great effect on the amount of matter, crystal structure and magnetic properties in the alloy film

Auditory performance analyses of cochlear implanted patients

Amaç: Bu çalışma koklear implantlı hastaların işitsel performanslarının gelişimini analiz etmek amacıyla yapıldı. Hastaların ameliyat yaşının, cinsiyetin, implantasyon uygulanan kulağın ve uygulanan koklear implant modelinin hastaların işitsel performanslarına etkileri araştırıldı.?? Hastalar ve Yöntemler: Çalışma için, kliniğimizde koklear implant ameliyatı uygulanan, doğuştan prelingual işitme kayıplı ve implantasyon sonrası en az 18 ay süre ile takibi yapılan 28 hasta (12 erkek, 16 kız) seçildi. Hastaların işitme performanslarının değerlendirilmesinde Dinleme Gelişimi Profili (LiP), Tek-İki-Üç Heceli Kelimeleri Tanıma Testi (MTP) ve Anlamlı İşitsel Deneyim Skalası (MAIS) testleri kullanıldı. İmplant uygulanma yaşının işitsel performans skorlarına etkisinin değerlendirilmesi için hastalar iki gruba ayrıldı: Grup 1 (implantasyon yaşı ?60 ay, ort. 44.8 ay) ve grup 2 (implantasyon yaşı >60 ay, ort. 100.6 ay). Bulgular: Grup 2 grup 1’e göre daha yüksek ameliyat öncesi, test skorlarına sahipti ancak koklear implant kullanımı sonrasında grup 1’deki hastaların işitsel performans seviyeleri, daha hızlı şekilde iyileşme kaydederek 12-18 ay içinde grup 2’deki hastaların seviyelerine eşit hale geldi. Verilerimiz cinsiyet, implantasyon uygulanan kulak ve koklear implant modeli gibi değişkenlerin koklear implantasyon sonrası hastaların işitsel performansına istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir etkileri olmadığını gösterdi. Sonuç: Çalışmamızda implantasyon yaşı ile işitsel performanstaki iyileşme arasında negatif bir ilişki olduğu bulundu. Küçük yaşta implantasyon uygulanan çocukların, dil gelişimlerini daha hızlı kazandıkları ve ileride okuma, yazma ve diğer eğitsel becerilerde daha fazla başarı sağladıkları gözlendi.Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyze the auditory performance development of cochlear implanted patients. The effects of age at implantation, gender, implanted ear and model of the cochlear implant on the patients' auditory performance were investigated. Patients and Methods: Twenty-eight patients (12 boys, 16 girls) with congenital prelingual hearing loss who underwent cochlear implant surgery at our clinic and a follow-up of at least 18 months were selected for the study. Listening Progress Profile (LiP), Monosyllable-Trochee-Polysyllable (MTP) and Meaningful Auditory Integration Scale (MAIS) tests were performed to analyze the auditory performances of the patients. To determine the effect of the age at implantation on the auditory performance, patients were assigned into two groups: group 1 (implantation age ≤60 months, mean 44.8 months) and group 2 (implantation age >60 months, mean 100.6 months). Results: Group 2 had higher preoperative test scores than group 1 but after cochlear implant use, the auditory performance levels of the patients in group 1 improved faster and equalized to those of the patients in group 2 after 12-18 months. Our data showed that variables such as sex, implanted ear or model of the cochlear implant did not have any statistically significant effect on the auditory performance of the patients after cochlear implantation. Conclusion: We found a negative correlation between the implantation age and the auditory performance improvement in our study. We observed that children implanted at young age had a quicker language development and have had more success in reading, writing and other educational skills in the future

Rootstocks effect on plant nutrition concentration in different organs of watermelon grafted onto various rootstocks

In this study carried out in 2009 and 2010 growing seasons, the effect of rootstocks on plant nutrition partitioning in grafted watermelon onto four gourd rootstocks was investigated. Ferro, RS841 (Cucurbita maxima x C. moschata) and Argentaio and Macis (Lagenaria hybrid) were used as rootstocks. Crimson Tide and Crisby watermelon cultivars were used as scion. Grafted and ungrafted seedlings were produced by a commercial seedling company. Plants were grafted by one cotyledon grafting techniques. Experiment was conducted in Alata Horticultural Research Institute in Mersin. The grafted plants were planted under low tunnel in early spring and regular cultural practices for watermelon were applied. Plant nutrition concentrations were determined in leaf, fruit rind, fruit flesh and seeds. Leaf sample was taken at flowering stage, rind, flesh and seed sample were taken from fully mature fruit. Nitrogen concentration was determined by modified Kjheldahl methods. Phosphorous concentration was determined by vanadomolybdophosphoric acid method. K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu concentration of samples were determined by atomic absorption spectrofotometry. Plant nutrient concentration in leaf, rind, flesh and seed were significantly affected by rootstocks. Increase in concentration of N, P, K, Ca and Mg in leaf was not observed in grafted plant while ungrafted plant had higher concentration of Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu in their leaf. Ca concentration in rind of fruits from grafted watermelon was higher than ungrafted control plant except Macis/Crimson Tide and Argentario/Crimson Tide graft combinations. Plant nutrition content of fruit flesh was significantly affected by rootstocks and scion. Magnesium, Fe, Zn and Mn concentration of seed was not significantly influenced by rootstocks and scion while other plant nutrient content was significantly affected rootstocks and scion

Clinical outcomes in patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal cancer treated with neoadjuvant docetaxel and cisplatin followed by radiation treatment and concomitant cisplatin

Clinical outcomes in patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal cancer treated with neoadjuvant docetaxel and cisplatin followed by radiation treatment and concomitant cisplatin.e16017Background:Radiation treatment with concomitant chemotherapy has improved the therapeutic outcome of patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma. However, the importance of neoadjuvant chemotherapy before the definitive therapy is still undefined. We report the results of our experience with neoadjuvant chemotherapy.Methods:Between 2004 and 2008, charts of 59 patients with advanced loco regional nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated in our institute were reviewed. They received induction chemotherapy consisting of cisplatin (75mg/m2) on day 1 and docetaxel (75mg/m2) on day 1 every 3 weeks and followed by definitive radiotherapy and concomitant cisplatin (100mg/m2) every 3 weeks or (40mg/m2) weekly during the radiotherapy.Results:The median age was 49 years 18-68y) and median follow up was 29 months (6-56mo). According to the American Joint Committee on Cancer's 2002 stage classification, all patients were stage II (15%), stage III (63%) and stage IV (22%). Fifty eight patients received 3 cycles of chemotherapy. One patient could not take the full dose chemotherapy due to gastrointestinal toxicity. Except for this patient, there was no grade 3 or 4 toxicity after induction chemotherapy. Concomitant cisplatin with radiation therapy was given to forty nine patients (83%). Of those, thirty two patients received more than 1 cycle of concomitant cisplatin. Grade 3 and/or 4 toxicities after cheomoradiation therapy were mucositis (46%), weight loss (10%), skin toxicity (14%), esophagitis (5%), emesis (5%), neutopenia (5%), thrombocytopenia (3%) and anemia (2%). Fifty one patients (87%) and fifty six (95%) patients achieved an objective response (Complete and partial response) after induction chemotherapy and chemoradiotherapy, respectively. One patient had local relapse alone, 2 patients had both local and distant metastases and 4 patients had distant metastases. Three years overall survival (OS) and disease free survival (DFS) rates were 93% and 83%, respectively.Conclusions:Induction chemotherapy with docetaxel and cisplatin is a feasible and tolerable treatment