An early indicator index of tornadic storms for Euro-Mediterranean region

Tornadoes are the most violent and destructive of all the severe weather phenomena that localized convective storms produce. There is a requirement in operational meteorology increasing nowadays that an indicator index which allows to reduce the uncertainty of severe convective storms and tornadoes in the scope of climate change adaptation strategies. The main intention is not to replace or substitute mesoscale modeling approaches, or composite indexes, but to warn operationally to draw attention to the Eastern Mediterranean and Türkiye in particular a few days in advance. The development of some indicators using atmospheric variables can undertake a crucial role by enabling such numerical models to be run only at certain time intervals, thus enduring lower computational costs. In this study, Eastern Mediterranean oscillation index (EMEDOi) has been developed in order to be able to detect the presence of ULLs (upper-level low) and frontogenesis approach is employed for selected tornadic storm events in Türkiye. EMEDOi has 7 different its variations (members) which these members have been developed to detect differences depending on the entry directions of cyclones and storms influencing Türkiye from the west of the country. In line with the GDAS data analysis, values of geopotential height are derived for the requirement of EMEDOi in a limited area. A few of the results from the study are as in the following: 86% of the trained tornado events revealed that the EMEDO-Oper index was in negative phase at the time a tornado was reported, regardless of whether the events featured a supercell mesoscale convective storm or a frontal movement. The hourly period until the local minimum is obtained can be described and characterized as the process by which the EMEDO-Oper index value decreases continuously. The time required to reach the local minimum varies based on the tornado occurrence. Based on the tornadic storm scenario in the test cluster in 2022 and the train cluster, this timeframe is predicted to be roughly 33.2 h on average. In western Türkiye, there is a 79% chance of a tornado occurring between six and forty-two hours after the EMEDO-Oper index reaches its local minimum. In particular, the projected chance for this period is 63% between 12 and 30 h after the local minimum is obtained. Besides, the majority of the tornado incidents with EMEDO-Oper values below − 0.75 were evaluated. After an EMEDO-Oper index value falls below that threshold, it is likely to forecast the risk period of a tornado in Türkiye with a probability of 79% and the local minimum point must be identified

Protective effects of cordycepin on the histopathological changes and oxidative stress induced by hepatic ischemia/reperfusion in rats

Aim: To investigate the effects of cordycepin on the histopathological changes and oxidative stress induced by hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) in rats. Method: Forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups as group I (sham, n=10), group II (control, n=10), group III (I/R-untreated, n=10) and group IV (I/R-cordycepin, n=10). Liver ischemia was induced for 30 min then reperfusion was allowed for 1 h. At the end of the experiment, liver specimens and blood samples were taken for histopathological and antioxidant evaluations, and biochemical analysis. Results: The levels of IL6, IL-1β, and TNFα in the serum and liver tissues were higher in the I/R-untreated group compared to the I/R-cordycepin treated group. In the I/R-cordycepin group, serum MDA levels were decreased compared with the I/R-untreated group. The I/R-cordycepin treated group showed an increase in TAS levels, and a decrease in TOS levels compared with I/R-untreated group. The histopathological injury score were significantly lower in the I/R-cordycepin treated group compared to the I/R-untreated group.  In the I/R-untreated group, the integrity of the hepatocyte cell lines deteriorated. Mononuclear inflammatory cells infiltrated the parenchyma regions, the sinuses dilated and there was diffuse congestion Preoperative treatment with cordycepine reduced histopathological abnormalities. Conclusion: Cordycepin has demonstrated significant hepatoprotective effects against I/R injury induced in rats through TAS elevation and reduction of TOS, MDA and proinflammatory cytokines

A New Sodium-Based Aqueous Rechargeable Battery System: The Special Case of Na0.44MnO2/Dissolved Sodium Polysulfide

International audienceHerein, the electrochemical performance of a new sodium-based aqueous rechargeable battery is demonstrated consisting of Na0.44MnO2 as cathode and dissolved sodium polysulfide (i.e., Na2S5) as anolyte. Na0.44MnO2 synthesized through a solid-state reaction method and dissolved Na2S5 anolyte are tested separately in a half-cell configuration, both giving rise to stable cycling performances. As the anode side of the desired full-cell configuration is at present dissolved in the electrolyte, the positive and negative electrodes need to be separated with an ion-selective membrane that is permeable to sodium ions and impermeable to polysulfide species. Hence, Nafion is tested as a barrier to prevent the leakage of the dissolved polysulfides. After careful tuning of the osmotic pressure inside the Nafion membrane, leakage of the dissolved polysulfide from the anode to the cathode side is eliminated, resulting in a 0.8V average voltage, low-cost sodium-ion aqueous cell

Traditional and novel cardiovascular risk factors in non-functioning adrenal adenomas.

Background: The majority of the incidentally discovered adrenal masses are non-functioning adrenal adenomas; however data regarding traditional and novel cardiovascular risk predictors in these subjects is lacking. The objective of our study was to investigate the levels of PAI-1, IL-6 and Apelin along with several traditional cardiovascular risk markers in subjects with non-functioning adrenal adenomas

Monomer Sequence Control via Living Anionic Copolymerization: Synthesis of Alternating, Statistical, and Telechelic Copolymers and Sequence Analysis by MALDI ToF Mass Spectrometry

Diphenylethylene (DPE) is a monomer which has attracted significant interest from both academia and industry. DPE can undergo (co)polymerization by living anionic polymerization but is incapable of forming a homopolymer due to steric hindrance. Herein the copolymerization of DPE and 1,1-bis(4-tert-butyldimethylsiloxyphenyl)ethylene (DPE-OSi) with styrene or butadiene is described in order to produce (functional) copolymers with controlled comonomer sequences—either alternating or telechelic. The copolymer sequences are inherently controlled by relative reactivity ratios, which in turn can be tuned by both monomer structure and the polarity of the polymerization solvent. The compositions of the copolymers prepared in this study were analyzed by 1H NMR spectroscopy and MALDI ToF mass spectrometry, the latter offering a unique opportunity to demonstrate perfect alternating sequences and insight into other sequences such as telechelic polymers

The effect of creatinine clearance on the short-term outcome of neuropathic diabetic foot ulcers

Reduced creatinine clearance is related to an increased risk for diabetic foot ulcer development. Wound healing has been reported to be worse in diabetic patients with impaired kidney functions than general diabetic population. This study aimed to investigate the effect of creatinine clearance on the short-term outcome of neuropathic diabetic foot ulcers

Oligocene vegetation and climate characteristics in north-west Turkey: data from the south-western part of the Thrace Basin

In this paper we present the first palynomorph and mollusc assemblages from the sediments in three different sections. From east to west, these are the Sevketiye (northern Biga Peninsula), the Tayfur (Gelibolu Peninsula) and the Kuzu harbour (Gokceada) (parts of the Danismen Formation) sections in the south and south-western side of the Thrace Basin (north-west Turkey), with the aim of obtaining information about the composition and structure of vegetation and climate during the Oligocene. The stratigraphic interval extends from late Rupelian to Chattian. The Danismen Formation in the Sevketiye section yielded a palynomorph association with abundant coastal palms (Arecaceae; Lepidocaryoidae), and mangrove pollen (Pelliciera). A similar assemblage from the Kuzu harbour section was also obtained, with minor contributions of mangrove elements Nypa and Acrostichum aureum, Arecaceae type palm, undifferentiated dinoflagellate cysts and microforaminiferal linings. These palynomorph assemblages, combined with the mollusc data, indicate that low-lying coastal environments prevailed. In contrast, the palynomorphs from the Tayfur section represent a non-marine environment lacking mangrove elements, palm trees, dinoflagellate cysts and microforaminiferal linings. The diversity of angiosperm taxa in the Tayfur palynoflora, which form the bulk of the assemblage, indicates terrestrial vegetation. Quantitative palaeoclimate analyses are based on the Coexistence Approach method, and yield over 22 degrees C at the coast as indicated by mangrove elements and palms in the Sevketiye and Kuzu harbour palynofloras. For the Tayfur palynoflora, mean annual temperature ranged between 16.5 and 21.3 degrees C. This indicates a climate cooling, corresponding to the transition from Rupelian to Chattian, and resulted in the pollen changes from mangrove bearing coastal deposits to more inland vegetation

In-situ tracking of NaFePO4 formation in aqueous electrolytes and its electrochemical performances in Na-ion/polysulfide batteries

International audienceIn-situ formation of pure olivine NaFePO4 from chemically synthesized LiFePO4 nanoparticles via an electrochemical ion-exchange route in sodium salt containing aqueous electrolyte is reported. Both in-situ electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) and in-situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements are performed to monitor the formation of NaFePO4. Subsequently, a rechargeable Na-ion aqueous polysulfide battery is demonstrated where NaFePO4 and dissolved Na2S5 solution are used as cathode and anolyte, respectively; and are separated from each other by an ion-exchange polymeric membrane. In order to prevent diffusion of Na2S5 polysulfide from the anode to the cathode side, salt concentration at both sides of the NaFePO4||Na2S5 full cell is finely tuned resulting a 45 mAh g−1 cycling capacity over 200 cycles

Evolution of Can-Etili (Canakkale-NW Turkey) lignite basin: Sedimentology, petrology, palynology and lignite characterization

This study examines the development and sedimentology of Can-Etili lignite basin in Biga Peninsula (NW Turkey) along with the palynologic and petrographic properties of the coals in this region. The Can-Etili lignite basin discordantly overlies Oligocene-aged Can volcanics. The basin consists of caldera type sedimentation developed by the combined effects of volcanism and tectonics. The volcanic rocks forming the basement of the basin consist of andesitic, dacitic and basaltic lava flows as well as agglomerates, tuff and silicified tuffs, and kaolin which is their alteration product. The basement volcanic rocks cooled from high potassium and calc-alkaline magma. The trace element geochemistry of different rocks within the volcanics reveals that they are from a volcanic arc. The Can Formation contains lignites and consists of 6 lithofacies representing alluvial, fluvial, marsh and lacustrine environments. These lithofacies are the lower volcanogenic conglomerate, the claystone, the lignite, the laminated organic claystone, the tuff intercalated sandstone-siltstone and the upper volcanogenic conglomerate. The lignite in the basin is limnic and is formed in a non-fluvial marsh and marsh-lake environment. An abundant percentage of vegetation (Engelhardia, Sapotaceae, Cyrillaceae) is compatible with temperate and subtropical climatic conditions in the basin during sedimentation of lignite. The coals of Can-Etili basin are humic with high sulfur content (6-6.5% average) mostly containing huminite compounds belonging to the class of lignite-low bituminous (C-A) coal. Their coalification rank is between 0.38% and 0.56% Ro. The coals are formed in limnic-limnotelmatic marsh zones based on their microlithotype components. The inorganic components of the coal mostly consist of pyrite and clay. The trace elements, As, Th, U and V, are higher than international coal standards. The coal quality is adversely affected by high sulfur content and sulfur driven trace element enrichments. The lignite reserve (possible-proved) of Can-Etili basin is greater than a hundred million tons, and the average coal seam thickness is 17 m. The lignite production in the basin is 3 mt/year and 1.8 million tons of this are used in the local thermal power plant. (C) 2015 International Research and Training Centre on Erosion and Sedimentation/the World Association for Sedimentation and Erosion Research. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved