Insulin autoimmune syndrome — time to remember

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Slip distribution of the 2017 M(w)6.6 Bodrum-Kos earthquake: resolving the ambiguity of fault geometry

SUMMARY The 2017 July 20, Mw6.6 Bodrum–Kos earthquake occurred in the Gulf of Gökova in the SE Aegean, a region characterized by N–S extension in the backarc of the easternmost Hellenic Trench. The dip direction of the fault that ruptured during the earthquake has been a matter of controversy where both north- and south-dipping fault planes were used to model the coseismic slip in previous studies. Here, we use seismic (seismicity, main shock modelling, aftershock relocations and aftershock mechanisms using regional body and surface waves), geodetic (GPS, InSAR) and structural observations to estimate the location, and the dip direction of the fault that ruptured during the 2017 earthquake, and the relationship of this event to regional tectonics. We consider both dip directions and systematically search for the best-fitting locations for the north- and south-dipping fault planes. Comparing the best-fitting planes for both dip directions in terms of their misfit to the geodetic data, proximity to the hypocenter location and Coulomb stress changes at the aftershock locations, we conclude that the 2017 earthquake ruptured a north-dipping fault. We find that the earthquake occurred on a 20–25 km long, ∼E–W striking, 40° north-dipping, pure normal fault with slip primarily confined between 3 and 15 km depth, and the largest slip exceeding 2 m between depths of 4 and 10 km. The coseismic fault, not mapped previously, projects to the surface within the western Gulf, and partly serves both to widen the Gulf and separate Kos Island from the Bodrum Peninsula of SW Anatolia. The coseismic fault may be an extension of a mapped, north-dipping normal fault along the south side of the Gulf of Gökova. While all of the larger aftershocks are consistent with N–S extension, their spatially dispersed pattern attests to the high degree of crustal fracturing within the basin, due to rapid trenchward extension and anticlockwise rotation within the southeastern Aegean

Predictors of breastfeeding self-efficacy in pregnant adolescents

Background Breastfeeding is critical for infant health and development globally. Current knowledge and attitude of future parents will significantly influence breastfeeding practices. The study was conducted to determine the levels and determinants of breastfeeding self-efficacy among primiparous and secundigravid adolescents. Methods A cross-sectional study was performed involving 54 primiparous and secundigravid adolescents in antenatal clinics of hospitals affiliated to the Ministry of Health in Adana, Turkey. They were aged between 16 and 19 years, had a single living fetus, did not have pregnancy complications, were in their third trimester of pregnancy, attended an antenatal clinic, and agreed to participate in the study. Data were collected using a Personal Information Form and the Antenatal Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Short Form Scale (BSES-SF). Kruskal-Wallis variance analysis, Mann Whitney U and multiple linear regression analysis test were used to analyze the data. Results Mean age of the pregnant adolescents was 18.28 ± 0.79 years, and 31.5% had primary education, 96.3% were not working, 55.6% lived in a nuclear family, and 51.9% had not received breastfeeding education. The total BSES-SF mean score was 55.37 ± 12.84. Breastfeeding education has a statistically significant effect on breastfeeding self-efficacy of pregnant adolescents (p<0.05). Regular antenatal care, breastfeeding training status, breastfeeding education source variables and breastfeeding self-efficacy variable of women significantly predicted negatively (p<0.05). Conclusions Breastfeeding education source was the most influential predictor variable of BSES. There is a need for nursing initiatives to enhance the adolescents’ antenatal breastfeeding self-efficacy levels

The External Exposome and Allergies: From the Perspective of the Epithelial Barrier Hypothesis

IntroductionIn the last decades, we have seen a rapid increase in the prevalence of allergic diseases such as asthma, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, and food allergies. The environmental changes caused by industrialization, urbanization and modernization, including dramatic increases in air pollutants such as particulate matter (PM), diesel exhaust, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), alarming effects of global warming, change and loss of biodiversity, affect both human health and the entire ecosystem.ObjectiveIn this review, we aimed to discuss the effects of the external exposome on epithelial barriers and its relationship with the development of allergic diseases by considering the changes in all stakeholders of the outer exposome together, in the light of the recently proposed epithelial barrier hypothesis.MethodTo reach current, prominent, and comprehensive studies on the subject, PubMed databases were searched. We included the more resounding articles with reliable and strong results.ResultsExposure to altered environmental factors such as increased pollution, microplastics, nanoparticles, tobacco smoke, food emulsifiers, detergents, and household cleaners, and climate change, loss and change in microbial biodiversity, modifications in the consumption of dietary fatty acids, the use of emulsifiers, preservatives and the decrease in the antioxidant content of the widely consumed western diet may disrupt the epithelial barriers of the skin, respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts, making us more vulnerable to exogeneous allergens and microbes. Epithelial cell activation, microbial dysbiosis and bacterial translocation disrupt the immune balance and a chronic Th2 inflammation ensues.ConclusionDramatic increases in air pollution, worrisome effects of global warming, dysbiosis, changing dietary habits and the complex interactions of all these factors affect the epithelial barriers and local and systemic inflammation. We want to draw attention to the emerging health effects of environmental changes and to motivate the public to influence government policies for the well-being of humans and the nature of the earth and the well-being of future generations

Epithelial barrier hypothesis: Effect of the external exposome on the microbiome and epithelial barriers in allergic disease

Environmental exposure plays a major role in the development of allergic diseases. The exposome can be classified into internal (e.g., aging, hormones, and metabolic processes), specific external (e.g., chemical pollutants or lifestyle factors), and general external (e.g., broader socioeconomic and psychological contexts) domains, all of which are interrelated. All the factors we are exposed to, from the moment of conception to death, are part of the external exposome. Several hundreds of thousands of new chemicals have been introduced in modern life without our having a full understanding of their toxic health effects and ways to mitigate these effects. Climate change, air pollution, microplastics, tobacco smoke, changes and loss of biodiversity, alterations in dietary habits, and the microbiome due to modernization, urbanization, and globalization constitute our surrounding environment and external exposome. Some of these factors disrupt the epithelial barriers of the skin and mucosal surfaces, and these disruptions have been linked in the last few decades to the increasing prevalence and severity of allergic and inflammatory diseases such as atopic dermatitis, food allergy, allergic rhinitis, chronic rhinosinusitis, eosinophilic esophagitis, and asthma. The epithelial barrier hypothesis provides a mechanistic explanation of how these factors can explain the rapid increase in allergic and autoimmune diseases. In this review, we discuss factors affecting the planet’s health in the context of the ‘epithelial barrier hypothesis,’ including climate change, pollution, changes and loss of biodiversity, and emphasize the changes in the external exposome in the last few decades and their effects on allergic diseases. In addition, the roles of increased dietary fatty acid consumption and environmental substances (detergents, airborne pollen, ozone, microplastics, nanoparticles, and tobacco) affecting epithelial barriers are discussed. Considering the emerging data from recent studies, we suggest stringent governmental regulations, global policy adjustments, patient education, and the establishment of individualized control measures to mitigate environmental threats and decrease allergic disease

The role of verifiability and privacy in the strategic provision of performance feedback: Theory and experimental evidence

We theoretically and experimentally analyze the role of verifiability and privacy in strategic performance feedback using a “one principal-two agent” context with real effort. We confirm the theoretical prediction that information transmission occurs only in verifiable feedback mechanisms and private-verifiable feedback is the most informative mechanism. Yet, subjects also exhibit some behavior that cannot be explained by our baseline model, such as telling the truth even when this will definitely hurt them, interpreting “no feedback” more optimistically than they should, and being influenced by feedback given to the other agent. We show that a model with individual-specific lying costs and naive agents can account for some, but not all, of these findings. We conclude that although agents do take into account the principal's strategic behavior to form beliefs in a Bayesian fashion, they are overly optimistic and interpret positive feedback to the other agent more pessimistically than they should

Kinetics, equilibrium and thermodynamics studies on Cd(II) removal from aqueous solution by magnesite tailing

Magnesite tailing for the removal of Cd(II) from aqueous solutions has been investigated using batch process. The effects of various parameters such as initial pH, adsorbent dosage, contact time and temperature on the removal of Cd(II) have been investigated. Kinetic models are applied to describe the adsorption kinetics of Cd(II) onto magnesite tailing. The adsorption kinetics follows well the pseudo second order kinetic model. The Langmuir, Freundlich and D-R isotherm models have been used for the analysis of adsorption equilibrium. The Langmuir isotherm model fits the equilibrium data. The monolayer adsorption capacity of magnesite tailing is found to be 38.46 mg/g at 45°C. The thermodynamic parameters show that the adsorption process is feasible, spontaneous and endothermic. The Cd(II) - magnesite tailing interactions are confirmed by the Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). A single stage batch adsorber was designed for different adsorbent dosage using Langmuir isotherm. It is determined that approximately 99% of Cd(II) from aqueous solution could be removed at a pH value of 6, an adsorbent dosage of 0.3 g / 50 mL solution, a contact time of 24 h, an initial solution concentration of 10 mg/L and a temperature of 25°C. The results indicate that magnesite tailing could effectively be used for the removal of Cd (II) from aqueous solutions

Mechanical, Vulcametric, and Thermal Properties of the Different 5-ethylidene 2-norbornene Content of Ethylene-Propylene-Diene-Monomer Vulcanized with Different Types and Compositions of Peroxides

Ethylene-propylene-diene-monomer (EPDM) rubber is an important commercial polymer. The vulcanization process significantly changes its thermal, mechanical, and vulcametric properties. This study was carried out to find optimum formulation of EPDM composite for a better application in automotive industry. Sixteen EPDM polymer samples having different 5-ethylidene 2-norbornene (ENB) and ethylene contents were vulcanized with different types and compositions of pet-oxide and coagents. The mechanical and vulcametric properties of these samples were measured and compared. The type of peroxide, coagent, and EPDM grade affected the mechanical, thermal, and vulcametric properties of the EPDM rubber to some extend. Use of aromatic peroxide and coagent increased the thermal stability slightly. Mechanical properties were changed very slightly with the change of peroxide type for the same content of peroxide and coagent. Scorch time and cure time decreased with initial increase of the peroxide content. EPDM compound vulcanized with BBPIB peroxide and TAC/S coagent has higher cure time than EPDM compound vulcanized with DMBPHa peroxide and TMPTMA coagent. Coran method was used for the modeling of experimental data. Velocity constant for the formation of peroxide radical and polymer radical were found for each case. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Appl Polym Sci 112:1891-1896, 200

Effects of 8-Week Thera-Band Training on Spike Speed, Jump Height and Speed of Upper Limb Performance of Young Female Volleyball Players

ABSTRACT: Introduction and objectives: Elastic resistance has been commonly used in the therapeutic and fitness setting. However, the effects of a strength training program using elastic resistance exercises to the explosive power and spike speed, which are very important elements for successful volleyball practice, has not been clearly demonstrated. Therefore, the aim of this study was to establish the effects of 8-week Thera-Band training protocols on the development of spike speed, counter movement jump (CMJ) height, peak power and speed of upper limb performance of young female volleyball players. Methods: The participants consists of 20 competitive female volleyball players who regularly train at the same team and aged 15-17 years (age 16.2 ± 0.7 years). All the players were tested for spike speed, CMJ height, peak power and speed of upper limb performances before and after 8-week training program. The players were divided into Thera-Band Training Group (TTG; n=10) and Control Group (CG; n=10). Both groups continued technical and tactical volleyball training together 3 days (120 min.d.-1) a week. Additionally, TTG attended Thera-Band training program through 8-week, 2 days per week and 2 sessions (60 min.d.-1). Results: The findings of the study showed significant change in CMJ height, peak power and spike speed at the end of 8-week. TTG significantly (p ≤ .001) improved CMJ height, peak power and spike speed, whereas the CG showed significant changes only CMJ height and peak power (p ≤ .05) at the end of 8-week. The effect of resistance exercises was significantly higher as compared to the control group (p < .05). Results demonstrated that the TTG players showed greater improvements in CMJ height (d = 1.31, moderate effect size), and spiking speed (d = 2.93, large effect size) performance than CG. Conclusion: It can be concluded that supervised  Thera-Band training contributed development of the performance of spike speed mostly and CMJ height and peak power of lower extremities in young female volleyball players. Due to its effectiveness on muscular performance, the Thera-Band training model can be recommended to the coaches and players in additional to the regular technical training