Mean platelet volume in brucellosis: correlation between brucella standard serum agglutination test results, platelet count, and C-reactive protein.

Background: Brucellosis, a zoonotic infection, was most widely diagnosed by the Brucella standard serum agglutination test (SAT). No previous publication has demonstrated a correlation between the degree of Brucella SAT agglutination positivity and the severity of brucellosis infection.Objective: To contribute to the clarification of the relationship between patelets and brucellosis. It is also aimed at evaluating the usefulness of the SAT titer as a measure of brucellosis severity.Material and Methods: We compared the control (n=60) and patients (n=96) groups in terms of mean platelet volume (MPV), C-reactive protein (CRP) and platelet values. Patients were grouped according to their degree of agglutination positivity titers and compared by means of CRP, MPV and platelet values. We also investigated the relationship among logarithmic values of MPV, platelet and CRP parameters for each group.Results: Although statistically meaningful difference was observed between control and patients group in terms of MPV and platelet value, there were no statistically significant differences observed among patients groups. The physiological negative correlation between MPV and platelet count was not encountered in group 2 and 3. Logarithmic values of CRP were not correlated with logarithmic values of MPV and platelet counts.Conclusion: The MPV could be a new parameter to evaluate hematologic abnormalities in patients with brucellosis. The SAT titer was not a useful measure for evaluation of the severity of brucellosis.Keywords: Brucella, CRP, platelet count, mean platelet volume, agglutinatio

[N-(2-Hydroxy­ethyl)ethyl­enediamine]oxalatocopper(II)

In the title mononuclear copper(II) compound, [Cu(C2O4)(C4H12N2O)], the CuII ion has a slightly distorted square-pyramidal geometry, with a tridentate N-(2-hydroxy­ethyl)ethyl­enediamine (HydEt-en) and a bidentate oxalate (ox) ligand. The N atoms of the HydEt-en ligand and the O atoms of ox ligand form the basal plane, while the O atom of the ethanol group of the HydEt-en ligand is located in the axial position. The complex mol­ecules participate in a supra­molecular assembly through N—H⋯O and O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds between HydEt-en and ox ligands

Gamification techniques for raising cyber security awareness

Due to the prevalence of online services in modern society, such as internet banking and social media, it is important for users to have an understanding of basic security measures in order to keep themselves safe online. However, users often do not know how to make their online interactions secure, which demonstrates an educational need in this area. Gamification has grown in popularity in recent years and has been used to teach people about a range of subjects. This paper presents an exploratory study investigating the use of gamification techniques to educate average users about password security, with the aim of raising overall security awareness. To explore the impact of such techniques, a role-playing quiz application (RPG) was developed for the Android platform to educate users about password security. Results gained from the work highlightedthat users enjoyed learning via the use of the password application, and felt they benefitted from the inclusion of gamification techniques. Future work seeks to expand the prototype into a full solution, covering a range of security awareness issues

Rational design and direct fabrication of multi-walled hollow electrospun fibers with controllable structure and surface properties

Multi-walled hollow fibers with a novel architecture are fabricated through utilizing a direct,one-step tri-axial electrospinning process with a manufacturing methodology which does not require any post-treatments for the removal of core material for creating hollowness in the fiber structure. The hydrophilicity of both inner and outer layers’ solution needs to be dissimilar and carefully controlled for creating a two-walled/layered hollow fiber tructure with a sharp interface. To this end, Hansen solubility parameters are used as n index of layer solution affinity hence allowing for control of diffusion across the layers and the surface porosity whereby an ideal multi-walled hollow electrospun fiber is shown to be producible by tri-axial electrospinning process. Multi-walled hollow electrospun fibers with different inner and outer diameters and different surface morphology are successfully produced by using dissimilar material combinations for inner and outer layers (i.e., hydrophobic polymers as outer layer and hydrophilic polymer as inner layer). Upon using different material combinations for inner and outer layers, it is shown that one may control both the outer and inner diameters of the fiber. The inner layer not only acts as a barrier and thus provides an ease in the encapsulation of functional core materials of interest with different viscosities but also adds stiffness to the fiber. The structure and the surface morphology of fibers are controlled by changing applied voltage, polymer types, polymer concentration, and the evaporation rate of solvents. It is demonstrated that if the vapor pressure of the solvent for a given outer layer polymer is low, the fiber diameter decreases down to 100 nm whereas solvents with higher vapor pressure result in fibers with the outer diameter of up to 1 μm. The influence of electric field strength on the shape of Taylor cone is also monitored during the production process and the manufactured fibers are structurally investigated by relevant surface characterization techniques

Facile synthesis of graphene from waste tire/silica hybrid additives and optimization study for the fabrication of thermally enhanced cement grouts

This work evaluates the effects of newly designed graphene/silica hybrid additives on the properties of cementitious grout. In the hybrid structure, graphene nanoplatelet (GNP) obtained from waste tire was used to improve the thermal conductivity and reduce the cost and environmental impacts by using recyclable sources. Additionally, functionalized silica nanoparticles were utilized to enhance the dispersion and solubility of carbon material and thus the hydrolyzable groups of silane coupling agent were attached to the silica surface. Then, the hybridization of GNP and functionalized silica was conducted to make proper bridges and develop hybrid structures by tailoring carbon/silica ratios. Afterwards, special grout formulations were studied by incorporating these hybrid additives at different loadings. As the amount of hybrid additive incorporated into grout suspension increased from 3 to 5 wt%, water uptake increased from 660 to 725 g resulting in the reduction of thermal conductivity by 20.6%. On the other hand, as the concentration of GNP in hybrid structure increased, water demand was reduced, and thus the enhancement in thermal conductivity was improved by approximately 29% at the same loading ratios of hybrids in the prepared grout mixes. Therefore, these developed hybrid additives showed noticeable potential as a thermal enhancement material in cement-based grouts

Synergistic effect of expanded graphite-silane functionalized silica as a hybrid additive in improving the thermal conductivity of cementitious grouts with controllable water uptake

Recently, a growing demand for geothermal applications has led to the exploitation of energy efficiently by developing grouting materials in the borehole between pipes and the ground. Therefore, the current study developed newly formulated cementitious grouts by the integration of expanded graphite (EG)-based hybrid additives synthesized by building chemical bridges between silica particles and EG in the presence of amino functional silane coupling agents. These produced hybrid additives with controlled EG and silica ratios were utilized in grout mixtures used in borehole heat exchangers to enhance the thermal conductivity. According to the optimization study on the formulation development of grout mixtures with bentonite, silica sands, cement, and superplasticizer by adding neat EG and EG-based hybrids, the relationship between the carbon amount and water demand was found to have a significant impact on thermal conductivity. The highest thermal conductivity value of 2.656 W/mK was achieved by the incorporation of 5 wt% hybrid additive with the ratio silica/EG of 1:5 compared to the reference grout, which showed a thermal conductivity of 2.373 W/mK. Therefore, the enhancement in thermal conductivity was dependent on the increase in the EG content and also the additive loading ratio, resulting in a slight increase in the water demand

Performance comparison of CVD grown carbon nanofiber based on single- and multi-layer graphene oxides in melt-compounded PA6.6 nanocomposites

In the present study, newly design hybrid nanostructures were produced by growing long carbon nanofibers (CNF) on single- and multi-layer graphene oxide (GO) sheets in the presence of catalyst by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Chemical composition analysis indicated the formation of Fe-C bonds by the deposition of carbon atoms on catalyst surface of Fe2O3 and increasing in C/O atomic ratio confirming CNF growing. These hybrid additives were distributed homogeneously through polyamide 6.6 (PA6.6) chains by high shear thermokinetic mixer in melt phase. Spectroscopic studies showed that the differences in the number of graphene layer in hybrid structures directly affected the crystalline behavior and dispersion state in polymer matrix. Flexural strength and flexural modulus of PA6.6 nanocomposites were improved up to 14.7% and 14% by the integration of 0.5 wt% CNF grown on multi-layer GO, respectively, whereas there was a significant loss in flexural properties of single-layer GO based nanocomposites. Also, the integration of 0.5 wt% multi-layer GO hybrid reinforcement in PA6.6 provided a significant increase in tensile modulus about 24%. Therefore, multi-layer GO with CNF increased the degree of crystallinity in nanocomposites by forming intercalated structure and acted as a nucleating agent causing the improvement in mechanical properties

Immunohistochemical neuroinflammatory markers in the hippocampus of PTZ-kindled rats under conditions of rapamycin and axitinib treatment

The aim of the study is to determine the level of HIF-1α, TNF-α, and NF-kB in the hippocampus of kindled rats treated with rapamycin and axitinib. Materials and methods. Kindling was produced in 29 rats by administration of three-week pentylenetetrazole (PTZ, 35.0 mg/kg, i.p.). Treatment with rapamycin (0.5 mg/kg, i.p.) and axitinib (2.5 mg/kg, i.p.) was performed for ten days in fully kindled rats. The avidin-biotin-peroxidase method was used for hippocampal slice staining. For negative control, staining was performed using only secondary antibodies. Results. The HIF-1α expression increased in kindled rats raised by 1.77 times compared to the control (p<0.001). Axitinib treatment resulted in of HIF-1α level of 16.7 % (p<0.05) compared with kindled animals, while combined treatment with rapamycin and axitinib reduced HIF-1α by 33.8 % (p<0.01). In kindled rats, TNF-α expression was 3.74 times greater than in control (p<0.001). Rapamycin treatment reduced TNF-α by 31.0 % (p<0.01). Axitinib treatment caused a reduction of TNF-α by 21.1 % (p<0.05). Combined treatment with rapamycin and axitinib reduced TNF-α by 48.0 % (p<0.001) but still exceeded the TNF-α in control by 1.95 times (p<0.01). NF-kB level in kindled rats exceeded the control by three times (p0.05), while axitinib – by 26.5 % (p<0.05) compared with kindled rats. Combined treatment with rapamycin and axitinib resulted in NF-kB reduction by 56.7 % compared with kindled rats (p<0.001). Conclusions. PTZ-kindling resulted in an increase in the immunoreactivity of HIF-1α, TNF-α, and NF-kB in the hippocampus. Combined treatment with rapamycin and axitinib engendered prevention of generalized seizures and normalized the level of HIF-1α and NF-kB with a significant reduction of TNF-α. Effects of treatment favours of synergy action of rapamycin and axitini

New hybrid nano additives for thermoplastic compounding: CVD grown carbon fiber on graphene

Nano additives have unique characteristics widely used in high technology applications due to their ultrahigh mechanical and thermal properties. They are not preferred in price sensitive sectors especially in automotive applications because of their high cost. On the other hand, there is a growing interest to use graphene as a reinforcing agent in composite production. At this point, graphene platelet (GNP) produced from the recycle source was used as a template for carbon nanofiber production by using chemical vapor deposition (CVD) technique to overcome commercialization harrier. This bicomponent and novel structure is a good candidate to be used as a reinforcing agent in compound formulations. This produced hybrid additive was dispersed in thennoplastic resin by thennokinetic mixer to get homogeneous dispersion and provide strong interfacial interactions. In the current work, the outstanding properties of graphene with carbon fibers were combined into one type structure. With the further research, the number of graphene layer were adjusted in this hybrid structure to bring a new insight in graphene and its composite applications. After the fabrication of graphene and carbon fiber-based reinforcements with different graphene sources, mechanically and thermally improved Polyamide 6.6 were developed at very low loadings by a thermokinetic high shear mixer. This developed technology will utilize an innovation to produce advanced thermoplastic prepregs including graphene and its hybrid additives with high mechanical properties and increased recycling degree by decreasing manufacturing costs