THE EFFECTS OF SEA WATER ON THE MORTARS MADE WITH DIFFERENT TYPE OF CEMENTS

Deniz suyunda bulunan sülfat iyonları çimento harçlarında ve betonda genleşme yaratarak çatlak, dökülme vb. hasarlar oluşturan başlıca problemlerden biridir. Betonların deniz suyu etkilerine dayanıklılığı için düşük su/çimento oranları ile geçirimsiz olacak şekilde üretilmesinin yanı sıra kullanılan çimento tipinin de önemli bir rolü vardır. Bu çalışmada, beş farklı tip çimento kullanılarak iki farklı su/çimento oranında çimento harcı örnekleri üretilmiştir. Hazırlanan örnekler 28 günlük kür süresinden sonra ıslanma-kuruma şeklinde deniz suyu etkisinde bırakılmıştır. Deniz suyunun örnekler üzerindeki etkisi; basınç dayanımı, kılcal yolla su emme, hızlı klor geçirimliliği ve boyutsal kararlılık deneyleri yapılarak belirlenmiştir. Deney sonuçları deniz suyu etkisinde puzolan katkılı çimentolarla hazırlanan örneklerin portland çimentosuyla hazırlanan örneklerden daha iyi performans sağladığını göstermiştir. Sulfate ion in seawater is one of the main problems that affect the cement mortars and concrete by creating expansion cracks and spills. For the durability of concrete under the effects of sea water, the type of cement used in the concrete production have an important role as well as at low water / cement ratio which is necessary to be impervious. In this study, the mortar specimens have been produced by the using of five different types of cement at two water/cement proportions. After the 28-days curing, the samples have been exposed to sea water effect in the form of wetting and drying. The effects of sea water on the sample properties have been determined by experiments such as compressive strength, capillary water absorption, rapid chloride permeability and dimensional stability. The results of the experiments showed that using of the pozzolan blended cements could be obtained a better performance from the samples made with the portland cement

Seropositivity of Cytomegalovirus, Rubella and Toxoplasma Gondii in Pregnant Women and IgG Avidity Tests

Purpose: Cytomegalovirus (CMV), Rubella, and Toxoplasma gondii (T.gondii) infections cause congenital malformations in the fetus when they occur in pregnant women, especially in the first trimester. This study aimed to determine the seropositivity of CMV, Rubella, and T.gondii in pregnant women. Materials and Methods: CMV, Rubella, and T. gondii seropositivity rates of pregnant women who applied to the Aksaray Training and Research Hospital Microbiology Laboratory between July 2019 and June 2021 were evaluated. In addition, the avidity test results studied during this period were included in the study. Results: A total of 3218 pregnant women were included in the study. CMV, Rubella, and T.gondii IgM seropositivity rates were 1.9%, 0.8%, and 1.4%, respectively, and these rates for IgG were 97.3%, 83.9%, and 21%, respectively. All the samples were found to have high avidity in CMV and Rubella. In the T.gondii group, 93.7% of women had high, and 6.7% had low avidity. Conclusion: CMV, Rubella, and T.gondii seropositivity were determined for the first time in Aksaray province in this study. These rates we found are similar to other studies in our country. No difference was found in CMV IgM and IgG according to age groups, while a decrease was found in Rubella with age. In T.gondii, on the other hand, it was observed that there was an increase in IgG with age, while the rate did not change in IgM

Comparison of polymerase chain reaction-restriction enzyme analysis method and DNA sequence analysis results in the identification of non-tuberculous mycobacteria

The typing of non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) is important from a clinical and epidemiological perspective. The polymerase chain reaction-restriction enzyme analysis (PRA) method and DNA sequence analysis method were utilized to target a gene region that codes the 65-kDa heat-shock protein for typing 150 suspected NTM samples isolated from the respiratory tract. Mycobacterium abscessus, Mycobacterium xenopi, Mycobacterium fortuitum, and Mycobacterium peregrinum were most frequently found by both methods. Six isolates that could not be defined by the PRA method were defined as Nocardia cyriacigeorgica, Nocardia abscessus, and Mycobacterium intracellulare by DNA sequence analysis. Discordance between the results of the two methods was observed for only one isolate. The isolate that was defined as Mycobacterium gordonae type 6 by the PRA method was defined as Mycobacterium senegalense by sequence analysis. The PRA method is simple and gives rapid results. Compared with DNA sequence analysis, it gives consistent and reliable results up to a ratio of 90%. DNA sequence analysis is the gold standard method in which all strains can be defined. However, given our laboratory conditions, its disadvantage is that it takes longer to reach a diagnosis than through the PRA method