The Evaluation of Water Sorption/Solubility on Various Acrylic Resins

Objectives: The absorption of water by acrylic resins is a phenomenon of considerable importance since it is accompanied by dimensional changes, a further undesirable effect of absorbed water in acrylic resins to reduce the tensile strength of the material. Solubility is also an important property because it represents the mass of soluble materials from the polymers. Methods: Ten acrylic resin-based materials were evaluated: two heat cure acrylic resins (De Trey QC-20, Meliodent Heat Cure) and eight self cure acrylic resins (Meliodent Cold, Akrileks, Akribel, Akribel Transparent, Vertex Trayplast, Formatray, Dentalon Plus, Palavit G). To evaluate water sorption and water solubility, thirty square-shaped specimens (20x20x1.5 mm) were fabricated from the wax specimens. One way ANOVA test, Tukey test and Pearson correlation coefficient performed for data. Results: Water sorption mean values varied from 11.33±0.33 to 30.46±0.55 µg/mm 3. Water solubility mean values varied from-0.05±0.23 to 3.69±0.12 µg/mm 3. There was statistically significant difference between mean values of the materials (P<.05). There was no linear correlation between sorption and solubility values. Conclusions: The results of the water sorption and water solubility values of both self-cured and heat-cured acrylic resins were in accordance with the ISO specification. No correlation found between water sorption and water solubility values. (Eur J Dent 2008;2:191-197

Paraoxonase and Arylesterase Activities, Lipid Profile, and Oxidative Damage in Experimental Ischemic Colitis Model

Objective. In the present study, since PON1 is known as an HDL-associated antioxidant enzyme that inhibits the oxidative modification of LDL and oxidative stress plays a role in the pathogenesis of mesenteric ischemia, we investigated the changes in PON1 activity and lipid profile in an experimental ischemic colitis model. Methods. Forty male Wistar albino rats were divided into two groups: the control group (N = 15) and the experimental group (N = 25). All animals were anesthetized with ether and ketamine anesthesia to undergo a midline laparotomy. Ischemic colitis was induced by marginal vessel ligation in the splenic flexura (devascularization process). A sham laparotomy was performed in the control group. All animals were sacrificed on the seventh postoperative day. Oxidative stress marker (malonyldialdehyde, MDA), lipid profile, and paraoxonase (PON-1) and arylesterase activities were determined. Histopathological evaluation was done under light microscopy, after sectioning and staining with hematoxyline and eosin. Statistical analysis was conducted using Student's t-test and Mann-Whitney U test, and P 0.05).Conclusions. PON1 and arylesterase play an important role in the pathophysiology of ischemic colitis

Construction of a high-density genetic linkage map and QTL mapping for bioenergy-related traits in sweet sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]

Sorghum is an important but arguably undervalued cereal crop, grown in large areas in Asia and Africa due to its natural resilience to drought and heat. There is growing demand for sweet sorghum as a source of bioethanol as well as food and feed. The improvement of bioenergy-related traits directly affects bioethanol production from sweet sorghum; therefore, understanding the genetic basis of these traits would enable new cultivars to be developed for bioenergy production. In order to reveal the genetic architecture behind bioenergy-related traits, we generated an F2 population from a cross between sweet sorghum cv. ‘Erdurmus’ and grain sorghum cv. ‘Ogretmenoglu’. This was used to construct a genetic map from SNPs discovered by double-digest restriction-site associated DNA sequencing (ddRAD-seq). F3 lines derived from each F2 individual were phenotyped for bioenergy-related traits in two different locations and their genotypes were analyzed with the SNPs to identify QTL regions. On chromosomes 1, 7, and 9, three major plant height (PH) QTLs (qPH1.1, qPH7.1, and qPH9.1) were identified, with phenotypic variation explained (PVE) ranging from 10.8 to 34.8%. One major QTL (qPJ6.1) on chromosome 6 was associated with the plant juice trait (PJ) and explained 35.2% of its phenotypic variation. For fresh biomass weight (FBW), four major QTLs (qFBW1.1, qFBW6.1, qFBW7.1, and qFBW9.1) were determined on chromosomes 1, 6, 7, and 9, which explained 12.3, 14.5, 10.6, and 11.9% of the phenotypic variation, respectively. Moreover, two minor QTLs (qBX3.1 and qBX7.1) of Brix (BX) were mapped on chromosomes 3 and 7, explaining 8.6 and 9.7% of the phenotypic variation, respectively. The QTLs in two clusters (qPH7.1/qBX7.1 and qPH7.1/qFBW7.1) overlapped for PH, FBW and BX. The QTL, qFBW6.1, has not been previously reported. In addition, eight SNPs were converted into cleaved amplified polymorphic sequences (CAPS) markers, which can be easily detected by agarose gel electrophoresis. These QTLs and molecular markers can be used for pyramiding and marker-assisted selection studies in sorghum, to develop advanced lines that include desirable bioenergy-related traits

Germinating in Box: An Effective and Practical Method for Grape Seed Germination

Asma ıslahında en önemli engellerden biri, iki üzüm çeşidinin melezlenmesi sonucu elde edilen melezçekirdeklerin çimlenme oranının düşük olmasıdır. Çimlenmeyi etkileyen en önemli faktörler arasında;ortam ve tohum nemi gelir. Ayrıca büyümeyi düzenleyici maddeler (BDM)de, çimlenmeyi olumluetkilemektedir. Bu çalışmada, melez üzüm çekirdeklerine BDM uygulamak ve kapalı ortamlarda kararlı birnem düzeyinde çimlendirilmek suretiyle çimlenme oranını arttırmak amaçlanmıştır. Alphonse Lavalle ×Regent melezlemesinden elde edilen F? melez çekirdekleri, nemlendirilmiş perlitte 4 ay süreyle, +5?’dakatlamayı takiben; torf: perlit (1:1) harç ortamı içeren 5 cm çapındaki torf saksılara ekilmiştir. Çimlenmeyiteşvik etmek için, çekirdekler ekimden önce 24 saat gibberellik asit (GA?, 1000 ppm, benzil aminopurin(BAP, 1000 ppm), GA?+BAP (1000 ppm+1000 ppm), hidrojen peroksit (H?O?, 1 M) çözeltisinde ve suda(kontrol) tutulmuştur. Saksılar, bağıl nem miktarı sürekli %99 düzeyinde olan kapaklı plastik kutularakonulmuş ve bu kutular sıcaklığı 27? olan çimlendirme odalarına alınmıştır. Çimlenen çekirdekler yineplastik kutulara konularak sıcaklığı 25? olan ve kutuların hemen üstü LED lambalar ile aydınlatılmış(PAR=135–317 ?mol m?² s?¹) bitki gelişme odalarına yerleştirilmiştir. Kutuların kapakları her iki odada dakapalı tutulmuştur. Bitkicikler 3–5 gerçek yaprak oluşunca, plastik torbalara alınmış ve daha sonra ısıtmalıseraya alınmıştır. Uygulamalar sonucunda çimlenen çekirdek ve elde edilen bitki yüzdesi kontrolde %60.39iken, 1000 ppm GA? uygulanmış çekirdeklerde %78.32’ye kadar yükselmiştir. Üzüm çekirdeklerinin 24saat GA? çözeltisine batırılmasından sonra plastik kutularda çimlendirilmesi ve bunu takiben yine plastikkutularda geliştirilmesi, asma ıslahı çalışmalarında başarıyı arttıracak etkin bir yöntemdir.One of the main problems of grape breeding is low germination rate of hybrid seeds obtained by crossing of grape varieties. Humidity in grape seeds and germination media have extremely important for germination. In addition, some plant growth regulators (PGR) have positive effects on germination. Hybrid seeds obtained by Alphonse Lavallee and Regent grape cultivars were straficated at 5? for 4 months in damp perlite. Seeds were immersed in PGR solutions such as Gibberellic Acid (GA?, 1000 ppm), Benzyl aminopurine (BAP, 1000 ppm), Hydrogen peroxide (H?O?, 1 M), GA? + BAP (1000 ppm + 1000 ppm) and water as a control. Then, they were sown in torf pots with 5cm diameter containing perlite: torf (v/v, 1:1) mixture. Pots were put in plastic boxes with lid containing humidity 99%. All boxes were placed to germination room with temperature 27? and in dark condition. Germinated seeds were transferred another plastic box and put in growth room illuminated by LED lamps (PAR=135–317 ?mol m?² s?¹) and heated to 25?. Lids of boxes were closed position in both rooms. Seedlings with 3–5 true leaves were transferred to plastic seedling bags containing perlite: torf (v/v, 1:1) and then they were moved to greenhouse. Germination rate and obtained seedling rate were increased up to 78.32%at 1000 ppm GA? application when compared to control (60.39%). Germinating grape seeds after immersing in GA? for 24 hours and thereinafter growing seedlings in plastic boxes are an effective method for hybrid seed germination in grape breeding

Effectiveness of a multidimensional approach for prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia in 11 adult intensive care units from 10 cities of Turkey: Findings of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC)

Purpose: To evaluate the impact of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) multidimensional approach on the reduction of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in adult patients hospitalized in 11 intensive care units (ICUs), from 10 hospitals, members of the INICC, in 10 cities of Turkey. Methods: A prospective active before-after surveillance study was conducted to determine the effect of the INICC multidimensional approach in the VAP rate. The study was divided into two phases. In phase 1, active prospective surveillance of VAP was conducted using the definitions of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Health Safety Network, and the INICC methods. In phase 2, we implemented the multidimensional approach for VAP. The INICC multidimensional approach included the following measures: (1) bundle of infection control interventions, (2) education, (3) outcome surveillance, (4) process surveillance, (5) feedback of VAP rates, and (6) performance feedback of infection control practices. We compared the rates of VAP obtained in each phase. A time series analysis was performed to assess the impact of our approach. Results: In phase 1, we recorded 2,376 mechanical ventilator (MV)-days, and in phase 2, after implementing the multidimensional approach, we recorded 28,181 MV-days. The rate of VAP was 31.14 per 1,000 MV-days during phase 1, and 16.82 per 1,000 MV-days during phase 2, amounting to a 46 % VAP rate reduction (RR, 0.54; 95 % CI, 0.42-0.7; P value, 0.0001.) Conclusions: The INICC multidimensional approach was associated with a significant reduction in the VAP rate in these adult ICUs of Turkey. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

International nosocomial infection control consortium (INICC) report, data summary of 36 countries, for 2004-2009

The results of a surveillance study conducted by the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) from January 2004 through December 2009 in 422 intensive care units (ICUs) of 36 countries in Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe are reported. During the 6-year study period, using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN; formerly the National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance system [NNIS]) definitions for device-associated health care-associated infections, we gathered prospective data from 313,008 patients hospitalized in the consortium's ICUs for an aggregate of 2,194,897 ICU bed-days. Despite the fact that the use of devices in the developing countries' ICUs was remarkably similar to that reported in US ICUs in the CDC's NHSN, rates of device-associated nosocomial infection were significantly higher in the ICUs of the INICC hospitals; the pooled rate of central line-associated bloodstream infection in the INICC ICUs of 6.8 per 1,000 central line-days was more than 3-fold higher than the 2.0 per 1,000 central line-days reported in comparable US ICUs. The overall rate of ventilator-associated pneumonia also was far higher (15.8 vs 3.3 per 1,000 ventilator-days), as was the rate of catheter-associated urinary tract infection (6.3 vs. 3.3 per 1,000 catheter-days). Notably, the frequencies of resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates to imipenem (47.2% vs 23.0%), Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates to ceftazidime (76.3% vs 27.1%), Escherichia coli isolates to ceftazidime (66.7% vs 8.1%), Staphylococcus aureus isolates to methicillin (84.4% vs 56.8%), were also higher in the consortium's ICUs, and the crude unadjusted excess mortalities of device-related infections ranged from 7.3% (for catheter-associated urinary tract infection) to 15.2% (for ventilator-associated pneumonia). Copyright © 2012 by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

FRUIT QUALITY PARAMETERS AND MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF SOME LOQUAT ACCESSIONS

Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl.), one of the firstly harvested fruit in spring is important fruit for Turkey and other Mediterranean countries because it can be supplied to market during shortage of fresh fruit. Genetic diversity within the loquats comes from seeds obtained from open pollinated trees or budspots which occur very often within the genus. The objectives of this study were to determine variations for some fruit quality characters and genetic markers among 10 foreign cultivars, 3 selected local cultivars and two change seedlings. For fruit weight the largest cultivar was 'Kanro' with 46.2 g. Concordantly with its large fruits the highest fruit length and width also were measured in 'Kanro'. Seed number of accessions studied varied between 1.22 and 3.17. The highest flesh ratio was obtained from 'Baffico' (90%) whereas 'Seedling 1' had the lowest flesh ratio (75%). There were high level of variation for total soluble solids (TSS) and acidity of accessions studied. Total soluble solids (TSS) of cultivars were determined between 14.0 and 9.9%, acidity varied between 0.39 and 1.99%. Molecular analysis, as assessed with 21 randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) primers indicated that all of accessions were distinguished. Using unweighted pair group method arithmetic average (UPGMA) analysis of RAPD data detected that similarity values among the loquats were between 0.69 and 0.92. In the dendrogram the accessions nested in two main groups. First group consisted of 'Hafif Cukurgobek', 'Uzun Cukurgobek', 'Tanaka' and 'Sayda' whereas rest of 11 accessions nested in other group. Wide range of genetic diversity was determined in loquat accessions and it considered as advantage for breeding programs