An ecological protection for wood material by hydrolyzed feather keratin

Within the scope of this study, the hydrolyzed keratin which is an ecological and harmless material, was applied to the wood material surfaces by dipping and spraying method in different concentration rate 1%, 3% and 5%. Within the scope of the research, as wood materials Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and beech (Fagus orientalis L.) were used. Wood samples were exposed to white and brown rot fungi for 16 weeks and water absorption rate tests for 48-hour period to in order to determine protection performances. According to the results of the water absorption tests, it was observed that the keratin concentrations reduced the water absorption of wood material at least 7 times than control samples. Keratin concentrations were determined to reduce mass loss by at least 50% compared to control samples against rot fungus. As a result; it has been determined that keratin has positive effects on the protection of wood material in tests and that keratin substance can be applied as a natural preservative on wooden surfaces

Antimicrobial and Antifungal Properties of Madder Root (Rubia tinctorum) Colorant Used as an Environmentally-Friendly Wood Preservative

The aim of this study was to determine the antifungal and antimicrobial properties of madder root extract when used as an environmentally-friendly wood preservative and against blue stain. Plant dyestuff was extracted from the root of madder by using an ultrasonic assisted method and then applied to Turkish oriental beech, Scots pine, oak, and walnut wood blocks with the immersion (classic) and immersion + ultrasonic assisted methods. For mordants, ferrous sulfate, aluminum sulfate, copper sulfate, and vinegar were used. In order to compare the performances of the natural paints, a synthetic dye was used. The abilities of the extracts to suppress attack by brown rot (Postia placenta) and white rot (Trametes versicolor) were investigated. Treated blocks were exposed to P. placenta and T. versicolor attacks for 16 weeks according to the TS 5563-EN 113 method. Antimicrobial activity of the extracts was determined with the agar dilution method by using the disk diffusion method for bacteria. Results showed that the mordant mixes were considerably more resistant to fungal decay compared to their untreated and synthetic counterparts. In general, control (non-mordant) and vinegar mixtures showed good performance against brown and white rot fungi. Copper mixes showed better antimicrobial activity against all types of microorganisms. In conclusion, it was found that madder root extracts and mordant mixes could be used as wood preservatives

Demographic and clinical characteristics among Turkish homeless patients presenting to the emergency department

Objective: Since the homeless are at greater risk of encountering health problems than the general population, the reasons for and incidence of their presentations to emergency departments also vary. The purpose of this study was to determine the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of Turkish homeless patients who brought to the emergency department by ambulance. Materials and methods: The records of homeless adult patients brought to the ED by 112 emergency service ambulance teams over a 1-year period from January to December, 2014, were examined retrospectively. Results: Thirty-six (21.56%) of the homeless patients enrolled in the study presented due to trauma, and 131 (78.44%) due to non-traumatic causes. One hundred thirty-seven (82.04%) of the total patient group were male. The mean age of the non-trauma patients was 47.3 ± 15.2 years (range, 18â81 years), and the mean age of the trauma patients was 36.9 ± 14.4 years (range, 18â63 years). The most common reason for presentation among patients presenting to the emergency department for non-trauma reasons was clouded consciousness (n = 39, 23.35%), followed by general impaired condition (n = 26, 15.57%), respiratory difficulty (n = 25 14.97%) and abdominal pain (n = 21, 12.57%). The most common reason for presentation among trauma cases was traffic accidents (n = 13, 7.78%), followed by sharp implement injury (n = 9, 5.39%). Four (2.4%) homeless patients died in the emergency department, three (%1.8) homeless patients discharged from the emergency department, and the remaining 160 (95.8%) were admitted to the hospital. Conclusion: Homeless patients may present to the emergency department due to traumatic or non-traumatic causes. Admission levels are high among these patients, who may have many acute and chronic problems, and appropriate precautions must be taken in the management of these subjects in the emergency department. Keywords: Homelessness, Homeless patient, Emergency department visit, Demographic