Comparison of red blood profiles and oxygen transport capacity of elite and sub-elite wrestlers

This study aimed to compare the red blood profiles’ that are determinants of oxygen transports system, of elite wrestlers with sub-elite wrestlers. This study consists of a twenty-one elite wrestlers representing national team of Turkey who volunteered to participate in the study. Biochemical parameters were determined during transition period and the bloods were drawn in a resting state for each participant. A paired T tests was used to check the variations in hematological parameters. There are no significant differences between the groups except age. Elite wrestlers age was found to be significantly higher than sub elite wrestlers (p = 0.019 <0.005).  RBC, HGB, HCT, MCH, MCHC were within normal limits and also for athletes indicates a positive development and there were no significant differences between the groups. Training increases total hemoglobin mass by stimulating erythropoiesis, which increases the amount of O2 that can be carried by blood. regular screening of hematological variables is desirable as many athletes have values near or below the lower limit of the normal range

Vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy may affect fetal thymus development

Objectives: The aim of our study was to evaluate the association of vitamin D deficiency (VDD) during pregnancy with thymus size in full-term fetuses. Material and methods: In this prospective study, we evaluated mid-pregnancy serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D3) concentrations. The fetal thymus size was measured by ultrasound in the third trimester. Neonatal 25(OH)D3 levels were evaluated by umbilical cord blood sampling. Correlation of maternal and neonatal vitamin D levels and association between thymus size and both, maternal and neonatal vitamin D concentrations were investigated. Results: Serum 25(OH) D3 concentrations were within the normal range in 48 (29.8%) mothers and 10 (13.1%) new­borns. A strong correlation between mid-pregnancy maternal and neonatal 25(OH)D3 concentration (r = 0.8, p < 0.001) was found. A significant linear correlation was observed between both, maternal and neonatal 25(OH)D3 concentrations and thymus perimeter length (r = 0.45, p = 0.04 and r = 0.43, p < 0.01, respectively). Both, maternal and fetal VDDs were associated with decreased thymus perimeter (p = 0.04, p = 0.03). Conclusions: Vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy may be associated with smaller fetal thymus. Our data suggest that VDD in pregnancy may lead to systemic inflammatory response in the fetus

Investigation of pilot scale manufacturing of polysulfone (PSf) membranes by wet phase inversion method

Membranes are used as a support layer for the fabrication of thin film composite membranes. Sup- port layer properties can affect many performance parameters of TFC membranes such as flux, rejection, morphology and stability against pressure. Although studies in lab scale fabrication exist, investigation the pilot scale polysulfone membrane fabrication has not been done. In this study, opti- mization of polysulfone support membranes fabrication was conducted in pilot scale. Coagulation bath temperature; casting speed and solution content were selected as main parameters for the opti- mization. Membrane surface properties were investigated in details with SEM and pore size dis- tribution. Membrane performance were determined with permeability experiments. Differences in pilot scale and lab scale membrane manufacturing were observed and compared with literature. On the contrary to literature it was found that, coagulation bath temperature has exact opposite effect in pilot scale membrane formation compared to lab scale studies. 10°C drop (from 25°C to 15°C) in coagulation bath temperature decreased mean pore size of membranes from 27 nm to 8 nm and per- meability from 464 l/m2h to 100 l/m2h while everything else was kept constant

Morbidly adherent placenta and cesarean section methods. A retrospective comparative multicentric study on two different skin and uterine incision

Objectives: Morbidly adherent placenta (MAP) is one of leading causes of maternal mortality, with an increasing rate because of repeated cesarean sections (CS). The primary objective of this study is to compare two techniques of skin and uterine incisions in patients with MAP, evaluating the maternal fetal impact of the two methods. Retrospective multicentric cohort study.Material and methods: A total of 116 women with MAP diagnosis were enrolled and divided in two groups. Group one, comprised of 81 patients, abdominal entry was performed by Pfannenstiel skin incision plus an upper transverse lower uterine segment (LUS) incision (transverse-transverse), which was 2–3 cm above the MAP border, with the uterus in the abdomen. In group two, comprised of 35 patients, abdominal entry was performed by an infra-umbilical midline abdominal incision, by vertical-vertical technique, and the pregnant uterus was incised by a midline incision (vertical) from the fundus till the border of the MAP. Total surgery time, blood loss, blood product consumption, total hospital stay, cosmetic outcomes, and postoperative complications were investigated.Results: Total time of surgery was significantly shorter in group 1 (p < 0.05). Intraoperative blood loss was higher in group 2. Difference between preoperative and postoperative Hb and Htc levels were 3.30 ± 1.04 and 12.99 ± 5.07 respectively (p = 0.012; p = 0.033). The use of erythrocyte suspension (ES), fresh frozen plasma (FFP), and cryoprecipitate and thrombocyte suspension (TS) were found to be significantly lower in patients of group 1than vertical-vertical group (p = 0.008, p = 0.009, p = 0.001, p = 0.001, respectively). There was no difference in terms of total length of hospital stay between groups.Conclusions: In a subgroup of patients diagnosed for MAP, the transverse-transverse incision resulted in less bleeding, less blood and blood product use, and had better cosmetic results than vertical-vertical incision. Moreover, the total time of surgery, crucial for MAP patients, seems to be shorter also in transverse-transverse incision than in vertical-vertical incision

Applicability of pressure retarded osmosis power generation technology in Istanbul

In this study, the applicability of pressure retarded osmosis power generation was investigated in order to meet the electricity demand in Turkey. Pressure retarded osmosis (PRO) is a method that converting salinity gradients to power using a semi-permeable membrane against an applied pressure and PRO is one of the promising candidates to reduce fossil fuel dependency. In PRO, water is transported from a low concentrated feed solution to a high-concentrated draw solution. According to the literature findings, in order to produce 1MW of electricity 1m3/s fresh water flow is needed. Turkey is surrounded on three sides by water and has a big potential to develop this technology. Riva River is investigated in the scope this study. Currently Turkey’s total installed power capacity reached 85.200 MW at the end of 2017.Calculations of PRO power generation reveals that it is possible to generate 25,45 MW, If using 5% of total river flow

FTO gene-lifestyle interactions on serum adiponectin concentrations and central obesity in a Turkish population

The aim of the study was to investigate whether lifestyle factors modify the association fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and obesity in a Turkish population. The study included 400 unrelated individuals, aged 24-50 years recruited in a hospital setting. Dietary intake and physical activity were assessed using 24-hour dietary recall and self-report questionnaire, respectively. A genetic risk score (GRS) was developed using FTO SNPs, rs9939609 and rs10163409. Body mass index and fat mass index were significantly associated with FTO SNP rs9939609 (P=0.001 and P=0.002, respectively) and GRS (P=0.002 and P=0.003, respectively). The interactions between SNP rs9939609 and physical activity on adiponectin concentrations, and SNP rs10163409 and dietary protein intake on increased waist circumference were statistically significant (Pinteraction=0.027 and Pinteraction=0.044, respectively). This study demonstrated that the association between FTO SNPs and central obesity might be modified by lifestyle factors in this Turkish population

REGIONAL UNEMPLOYMENT DISPARITIES IN TURKEY

WOS: 000405136200006The aim of this study is to analyze the reasons of unemployment disparities among 26 NUTS-2 regions in Turkey for the period 2004-2013. To that end, spatial panel econometrics is employed. It is empirically proven that the determinants of the regional unemployment disparities are labor force participation rate, young population, industrial mix and educational attainment. Further, it is detected that there is a spatial dependence (spatial autocorrelation) among the regions. In other words, it is discovered that an increase in unemployment rate in a region also affects the unemployment rates of neighboring regions. Spillover effects of independent variables are also estimated. Hereby, the impacts of factors, which determine unemployment in a region, both on that region and neighboring regions are obtained individually.Ege University BAP projectEge University [2016-IKT-002]This study was financially supported by Ege University BAP project number 2016-IKT-002