Clawing the Way to a New Life: Narratives of Divorced Women in Turkey

Basierend auf ihrer MA-Thesis in „Kritischen Kulturwissenschaften“ geht M. Esra Yıldırım in dem vorliegenden Buch auf die Erzählung der Lebensgeschichte von 28 geschiedenen Frauen aus der Türkei ein. Ausgehend vom analytischen Rahmen geschlechts- und altersbezogener Hierarchien in der Türkei, setzt sich die Autorin mit den Erfahrungen der Teilnehmerinnen zu Vaterschaft im Elternhaus, Maskulinität und Femininität in der Ehe und den unterschiedlichen Formen von Sexismus nach der Scheidung auseinander. Mit einer Vielzahl von Erzählungen, die die Lesenden in ihren Bann ziehen, trägt Yeni Bir Hayat Kurmak nicht nur zur kulturwissenschaftlichen und feministischen Literatur bei, sondern spricht auch ein größeres nicht-akademisches Publikum an.Based on her MA research in critical and cultural studies, M. Esra Yıldırım unrolls the life story narratives of 28 divorced women in Turkey. Departing from an analytical framework of age and gender hierarchies in Turkey, the author tackles the participants’ experiences with fatherhood in their families of origin, with masculinity and femininity in marriage, and with diverse peculiar forms of sexism after divorce. Through a variety of narratives that captivate the reader, Yeni Bir Hayat Kurmak not only contributes to cultural studies and feminist literature but also speaks to a large non-academic audience

Successful Supercooled Liver Storage for 4 Days

The realization of long–term human organ preservation will have groundbreaking effects on the current practice of transplantation. Herein we present a novel technique based on sub–zero non–freezing tissue preservation and extracorporeal machine perfusion that allows transplantation of rat livers preserved for up to 4 days, thereby tripling the viable preservation duration

Supercooling as a Viable Non-Freezing Cell Preservation Method of Rat Hepatocytes

Supercooling preservation holds the potential to drastically extend the preservation time of organs, tissues and engineered tissue products, and fragile cell types that do not lend themselves well to cryopreservation or vitrification. Here, we investigate the effects of supercooling preservation (SCP at -4oC) on primary rat hepatocytes stored in cryovials and compare its success (high viability and good functional characteristics) to that of static cold storage (CS at +4oC) and cryopreservation. We consider two prominent preservation solutions a) Hypothermosol (HTS-FRS) and b) University of Wisconsin solution (UW) and a range of preservation temperatures (-4 to -10 oC). We find that there exists an optimum temperature (-4oC) for SCP of rat hepatocytes which yields the highest viability; at this temperature HTS-FRS significantly outperforms UW solution in terms of viability and functional characteristics (secretions and enzymatic activity in suspension and plate culture). With the HTS-FRS solution we show that the cells can be stored for up to a week with high viability (~56%); moreover we also show that the preservation can be performed in large batches (50 million cells) with equal or better viability and no loss of functionality as compared to smaller batches (1.5 million cells) performed in cryovials

Subnormothermic Machine Perfusion of Steatotic Livers Results in Increased Energy Charge at the Cost of Anti-Oxidant Capacity Compared to Normothermic Perfusion

There continues to be significant debate regarding the most effective mode of ex situ machine perfusion of livers for transplantation. Subnormothermic (SNMP) and normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) are two methods with different benefits. We examined the metabolomic profiles of discarded steatotic human livers during three hours of subnormothermic or normothermic machine perfusion. Steatotic livers regenerate higher stores of ATP during SNMP than NMP. However, there is a significant depletion of available glutathione during SNMP, likely due to an inability to overcome the high energy threshold needed to synthesize glutathione. This highlights the increased oxidative stress apparent in steatotic livers. Rescue of discarded steatotic livers with machine perfusion may require the optimization of redox status through repletion or supplementation of reducing agents

Optimization of Ex Vivo Machine Perfusion and Transplantation of Vascularized Composite Allografts

Background: Machine perfusion is gaining interest as an efficient method of tissue preservation of Vascularized Composite Allografts (VCA). The aim of this study was to develop a protocol for ex vivo subnormothermic oxygenated machine perfusion (SNMP) on rodent hindlimbs and to validate our protocol in a heterotopic hindlimb transplant model. Methods: In this optimization study we compared three different solutions during 6 h of SNMP ( n = 4 per group). Ten control limbs were stored in a preservation solution on Static Cold Storage [SCS]). During SNMP we monitored arterial flowrate, lactate levels, and edema. After SNMP, muscle biopsies were taken for histology examination, and energy charge analysis. We validated the best perfusion protocol in a heterotopic limb transplantation model with 30-d follow up ( n = 13). As controls, we transplanted untreated limbs ( n = 5) and hindlimbs preserved with either 6 or 24 h of SCS ( n = 4 and n = 5). Results: During SNMP, arterial outflow increased, and lactate clearance decreased in all groups. Total edema was significantly lower in the HBOC-201 group compared to the BSA group ( P = 0.005), 4.9 (4.3-6.1) versus 48.8 (39.1-53.2) percentage, but not to the BSA + PEG group ( P = 0.19). Energy charge levels of SCS controls decreased 4-fold compared to limbs perfused with acellular oxygen carrier HBOC-201, 0.10 (0.07-0.17) versus 0.46 (0.42-0.49) respectively ( P = 0.002). Conclusions: Six hours ex vivo SNMP of rodent hindlimbs using an acellular oxygen carrier HBOC-201 results in superior tissue preservation compared to conventional SCS. (c) 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Selecting Display Products for Furniture Stores Using Fuzzy Multi-criteria Decision Making Techniques

© 2018, Springer Nature Switzerland AG. Efficient marketing in which the right products are supplied to the right consumer plays a crucial role for a profitable business in the age of highly accessible and competitive global market. This fact enforces producers to clearly identify and analyze the needs of consumers and to display their products respecting locality based on customers’ needs. The position of the business is strengthened within the market and its competiveness increases by supplying and displaying the products suitable to regional consumers’ preferences. In this study, an integral fuzzy multi criteria decision making technique is proposed for an effective decision making process to select the most suitable display products to the consumers’ needs and preferences. The approach has been applied to identify the most suitable set of modular furniture products to be displayed at a local store that locates in Bursa city of Turkey. The approach uses Fuzzy DEMATEL method to work out the interrelations of chosen criteria, which are weighted with Fuzzy ANP and finally suggest a rank-based list of products with Fuzzy PROMETHEE. The results are verified with the expert view and found very useful

Exceeding the Limits of Static Cold Storage in Limb Transplantation Using Subnormothermic Machine Perfusion

Background For 50 years, static cold storage (SCS) has been the gold standard for solid organ preservation in transplantation. Although logistically convenient, this preservation method presents important constraints in terms of duration and cold ischemia-induced lesions. We aimed to develop a machine perfusion (MP) protocol for recovery of vascularized composite allografts (VCA) after static cold preservation and determine its effects in a rat limb transplantation model. Methods Partial hindlimbs were procured from Lewis rats and subjected to SCS in Histidine-Tryptophan-Ketoglutarate solution for 0, 12, 18, 24, and 48 hours. They were then either transplanted (Txp), subjected to subnormothermic machine perfusion (SNMP) for 3 hours with a modified Steen solution, or to SNMP + Txp. Perfusion parameters were assessed for blood gas and electrolytes measurement, and flow rate and arterial pressures were monitored continuously. Histology was assessed at the end of perfusion. For select SCS durations, graft survival and clinical outcomes after transplantation were compared between groups at 21 days. Results Transplantation of limbs preserved for 0, 12, 18, and 24-hour SCS resulted in similar survival rates at postoperative day 21. Grafts cold-stored for 48 hours presented delayed graft failure (p = 0.0032). SNMP of limbs after 12-hour SCS recovered the vascular resistance, potassium, and lactate levels to values similar to limbs that were not subjected to SCS. However, 18-hour SCS grafts developed significant edema during SNMP recovery. Transplantation of grafts that had undergone a mixed preservation method (12-hour SCS + SNMP + Txp) resulted in better clinical outcomes based on skin clinical scores at day 21 post-transplantation when compared to the SCS + Txp group (p = 0.01613). Conclusion To date, VCA MP is still limited to animal models and no protocols are yet developed for graft recovery. Our study suggests that ex vivo SNMP could help increase the preservation duration and limit cold ischemia-induced injury in VCA transplantation.</p

Protocol for a randomized controlled trial: peer-to-peer Group Problem Management Plus (PM+) for adult Syrian refugees in Turkey

Background: A large proportion of Syrians have been exposed to potentially traumatic events, multiple losses, and breakdown of supportive social networks and many of them have sought refuge in host countries where they also face post-migration living difficulties such as discrimination or integration problems or both. These adversities may put Syrian refugees at high risk for common mental disorders. In response to this, the World Health Organization (WHO) developed a trans-diagnostic scalable psychological intervention called Problem Management Plus (PM+) to reduce psychological distress among populations exposed to adversities. PM+ has been adapted for Syrian refugees and can be delivered by non-specialist peer lay persons in the community. Methods: A randomized controlled trial (RCT) will be conducted with 380 Syrian refugees in Turkey. After providing informed consent, participants with high levels of psychological distress (scoring above 15 on the Kessler-10 Psychological Distress Scale (K10)) and functional impairment (scoring above 16 on the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0, or WHODAS 2.0) will be randomly assigned to Group PM+/enhanced care as usual (Group PM+/E-CAU) (n = 190) or E-CAU (n = 190). Outcome assessments will take place 1 week after the fifth session (post-assessment), 3 months after the fifth session and 12 months after baseline assessment. The primary outcome is psychological distress as measured by the Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL-25). Secondary outcomes include functional impairment, post-traumatic stress symptoms, self-identified problems, and health system and productivity costs. A process evaluation will be conducted to explore the feasibility, challenges and success of the intervention with 25 participants, including participants, facilitators, policy makers and mental health professionals. Discussion: The treatment manual of the Syrian-Arabic Group PM+ and training materials will be made available through the WHO once the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of Group PM+ have been established. Trial registration: Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT03960892. Unique protocol ID: 10/2017. Prospectively registered on 21 May 2019