Antibody response following Hepatitis B vaccination in peritoneal dialysis patients: does normalized urea clearance matter?

OBJECTIVES: Data on the factors that contribute to the antibody response to hepatitis B virus vaccination in peritoneal dialysis patients are scarce. The current study was conducted on a group of peritoneal dialysis patients to learn how the response to hepatitis B virus vaccination varies according to the patient's clearance of urea normalized to total body water (Kt/V). METHODS: A convenience sample of 33 peritoneal dialysis patients (13 women and 20 men, with a mean age of 49¡12 years) was administered double doses (20 &#956;g IM in each deltoid muscle) of recombinant hepatitis B vaccine at 0, 1, 2, and 6 months. Response to immunization was measured at one to three months after the final dose of vaccine. The subjects were divided into groups according to the level of antibodies to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs), including non-responders ( < 10 IU/L), weak responders (10-100 IU/L), and good responders ( > 100 IU/L). RESULTS: Among non-responders, weak responders, and good responders, significant differences were found in age (54 ± 12 vs. 56 ± 9 vs. 45¡12 years, respectively; p = 0.049) and recombinant human erythropoietin use (20 vs. 29 vs. 76%, respectively; p = 0.016). No significant differences in weekly total Kt/V (p = 0.704), weekly peritoneal Kt/V (p = 0.064) and residual glomerular filtration rate (p = 0.355) were found across the three groups. CONCLUSIONS: Delivered clearance measured by weekly peritoneal Kt/V and total clearance measured by weekly total Kt/V did not predict the response to hepatitis B virus vaccination in patients on peritoneal dialysis

COVID-19 Mortality Prediction: A Case Study for Istanbul

It is well known that it is very difficult to make predictions for the real number of deaths due to any pandemic by using SIR and similar models since the predicted solutions systematically can deviate from real data. On the other hand, death data in the long and effective pandemic period cannot reflect the real case. In order to get more correct solutions and obtain realistic predictions, the parameters of these equations must be determined more precisely. In this study, by using real data depending on all deaths in Istanbul as a case study for 2020-2022 we determined the values of the parameters of the SEIR model and obtained the solution of SEIR equations. Firstly, we show that our numerical solution has a good fit with real data of the deaths due to COVID-19 for 2020 first and second peaks and 2021 first peak. Based on this confirmation, we predicted possible the number of deaths for the 2021 second peak. Furthermore, we see that our results show the number of deaths due to COVID-19 in Istanbul. Our method strongly provides that the model can lead to correct results if the parameters of SEIR models are determined by using excess mortality approximation. Now, we extend the study to predict the number of deaths due to the pandemic effects in 2022-2023. We show that our prediction is still compatible with the number of deaths for each wave. Finally, we predict the number of deaths for the future wave of 2022-2023 and we calculate the number of infected people in Istanbul for herd immunity

The engineering performance of eco-friendly concretes containing diatomite fly ash and ground granulated blast furnace slag

Approximately 10 % of CO2 is emitted from an ordinary Portland cement production. In cement and concrete production, CO2 emissions can be greatly reduced by using Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCMs). In addition, the microstructure and durability properties of concrete are greatly improved when silica-rich SCMs are used. In this study, Eco-Friendly concrete design was carried out using three different SCMs. Diatomite, ground granulated blast furnace (GGBFS) and fly ash (FA) were used as the SCM in the concrete mixtures. SCMs were used instead of cement at ratios of 5, 10, 15, and 20 wt %. When diatomite was used at the rate of 20 %, the standard consistency water increased 1.7 times as compared to the reference mixture. With the increase in the replacement ratio, the final setting times of the pastes increased. The high active SiO2 content of diatomite shortened the initial setting time and increased the compressive strength. The use of 5 % diatomite reduced the slump value by 57 % as compared to the reference mixture. The slump and Ve-Be tests of GGBFS and FA mixtures showed similar properties to the reference mixture. The 28-day compressive strength of concrete varied between 29.2–34.6 MPa. With the increase in the curing time of the concrete mixtures, up to 50 % improvements were observed in the compressive strength. Especially on the 180th day, a compressive strength of 44.1 MPa was obtained in concrete mixtures with a 10 % replacement ratio. While using the FA in the mixtures improved the abrasion properties, the opposite result was observed in the case of the GGBFS. It was observed that the mixtures with 5 % FA showed the closest properties to the reference mixture. As a result, it was determined that SCMs with different properties could be used in environmentally friendly concrete mixtures by up to a 20 % replacement ratio

Opinions of High School Students involved in Violence

The aim of this research is to assess the opinions of students in a variety of high schools at different class levels who received disciplinary punishment for violence. The research comprised 35 boys and 10 girls, for a total of 45 students. The data for the research were obtained with semi-structured interviews. The results show that the students used violence due to insufficient anger control, insufficient problem solving skills, and problems with delayed gratification and peer support. Additionally, it was found that the academic success of the students was low, they were repeating classes, had absences from school and problems with their families. During students’ evaluation of the events for which they received disciplinary punishments, they stated that they would experience the same problems in similar situations or would quickly remove themselves from the scene as a solution. The guidance service, which is the school support service, helped; however this was insufficient and it was emphasized that management and teachers did not show sufficient interest. Additionally though some of the students were receiving medical treatment, it was observed that their problems continued. This situation was evaluated as showing that to solve the problem team work is necessary. In conclusion, in addition to medical evaluation of students for antagonism disorder and behavior disorder, it is proposed that projects with a holistic basis including family training, anger control studies, conflict resolution skills and peer mediation training supported by social services are necessary. Key Words: violence in school, aggressiveness, disciplinary punishmen

Ordo Urbium Nobilium: İçerik ve Kapsam

MS IV. yüzyılda yaşayan Decimus Magnus Ausonius, Roma İmparatorluğu'nun özellikle batı yakasını yakından tanıyan önemli bir alim ve devlet adamıydı. Onu mühim biri haline getiren en önemli husus; çeşitli bilimler özelindeki bilgi birikiminin derinliği yanında başarılı bir eğitmen olmasıydı. Ayrıca, son derece stratejik mevkilere erişebilmiş bir devlet adamıydı. Yaşamının son yıllarında kaleme aldığı şiirlerinden olan Ordo Urbium Nobilium, Geç Antikçağ dünyasına dair önemli veriler içermektedir. Bu kapsamda, söz konusu çalışma kendisinin özellikle coğrafya, tarih, filoloji ve Latin edebiyatı-kültürü gibi çeşitli alanlarda Geç Antikçağ eğitim kurumlarının ders içeriğine dâhil edilmiş şiirini konu edinmektedir. Öyle ki, Ortaçağdan günümüze değin Ausonius’un neredeyse her eseri hakkında yüzlerce çalışma gerçekleştirilmiş ve bunların birçoğu da ya yayımlanmış ya da yayımlanmayı bekler niteliktedir. Bu makalenin kurgusu da; Ausonius'un Ordo Urbium Nobilium başlıklı şiirinin içeriğinin ve kapsamının değerlendirilmesine odaklanmaktadır. Bu değerlendirme bağlamında öncelikle şiirde bahsi geçen kentler, şiir içerisinde aktarılan özellikleriyle incelenmekte, ayrıca Ausonius'un bu yerleşim birimleriyle şahsi ve resmi münasabetlerinin eserindeki yansıması irdelenecektir

Determination of rhodamine b in cosmetics, candy, water, and plastic by a novel multiwalled carbon nanotube (mwcnt)@zinc oxide@magnetite nanocomposite for magnetic solid-phase extraction (mspe) with spectrophotometric detection

A new magnetic solid phase microextraction method (MSPE) was developed for the preconcentration of rhodamine B from plastics, cosmetics, and environmental samples before spectrophotometric analysis. A nanocomposite adsorbent containing ZnO nanoparticles (NPs), multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and Fe3O4 nanoparticles was synthesized by a hydrothermal procedure. The new magnetic nanocomposite (MWCNTs@ZnO@Fe3O4) was characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), x-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The pH, sample volume, eluent type, adsorbent mass, influence of foreign species, and analyte-adsorbent and eluent contact times were optimized. The optimum pH was 3; adsorbent mass, 20 mg; sample volume, 50 mL; and eluent, 0.7 mL of ethanol. Recovery values exceeding 95% were obtained. The developed vortex assisted magnetic solid phase extraction method (VA-MSPE) was applied to practical analysis. The limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) were 0.83 & mu;g L-1 and 2.77 & mu;g L-1, respectively. The addition/recovery experiments were carried on several water samples to demonstrate acceptable recoveries

Polyp in concha bullosa: a case report and review of the literature

Polyp originating within a concha bullosa is uncommon; we report only the third such case in the English literature. A 45-year-old man presented with nasal obstruction and headache. Examination of the nose revealed right septal deviation and a hypertrophic left middle concha. Computed tomography confirmed right septal deviation and identified left concha bullosa with thickening of the mucosa covering this lesion. The lateral lamella of the affected turbinate was removed and a mass was excised. Histopathologic examination of the excised mass revealed polypoid hyperplasia. The rare finding of polyp in concha bullosa is discussed with a review of the literature. In any case of concha bullosa, computed tomography images should be carefully evaluated before surgery to check for other pathologies that might have arisen within the lesion