Search

Impellers with splitter blades are used for pumps and compressors in the design of turbomachines. Design parameters such as the number of blades, blade discharge angle and impeller discharge diameter impact affect pump performance and energy consumption. In this study, the effect of the number of blades (z=5, 6, and 7), blade discharge angles (β2b=25, and β2b=35) and splitter blade lengths (40, 55, 70, and 85% of the main blade length) on Deep Well Pump (DWP) performance has been studied experimentally. In the experiments, pump casing, blade inlet angle, blade thickness, blade width and impeller inlet and discharge diameters have been kept fixed while other parameters such as the number of blades, blade discharge angles and splitter blade lengths have been allowed to vary. As a result of the experimental study, the highest efficiency of all the impellers for best efficiency point (b.e.p) has been obtained on the impeller with the number of blades z=6, blade discharge angle 2b=25 and 85% splitter blade addition compared to impellers without splitter blades.

A fast-switching, high-repetition-rate magnet and power supply have been developed for and operated at TRIUMF, to deliver a proton beam to the new ultracold neutron (UCN) facility. The facility possesses unique operational requirements: a time-averaged beam current of 40 μA with the ability to switch the beam on or off for several minutes. These requirements are in conflict with the typical operation mode of the TRIUMF cyclotron which delivers nearly continuous beam to multiple users. To enable the creation of the UCN facility, a beam-sharing arrangement with another facility was made. The beam sharing is accomplished by the fast-switching (kicker) magnet which is ramped in 50 μs to a current of 193 A, held there for approximately 1 ms, then ramped down in the same short period of time. This achieves a 12 mrad deflection which is sufficient to switch the proton beam between the two facilities. The kicker magnet relies on a high-current, low-inductance coil connected to a fast-switching power supply that is based on insulated-gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs). The design and performance of the kicker magnet system and initial beam delivery results are reported.

Abstract Background Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a global health issue associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk. Endothelial dysfunction is a known precursor to atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease, and its role in the pathogenesis of DM complications is well-documented. There is limited information in the evaluation of endothelial function in prediabetic patients using flow-mediated dilation (FMD), and studies have not excluded patients with known atherosclerosis or coronary artery disease. Thus, in this study, we aimed to evaluate the endothelial functions using FMD from the brachial artery of DM and prediabetes patients who had normal coronary arteries. Methods This study included 73 participants: 25 with DM, 25 with prediabetes, and 23 normoglycemic controls, all with normal coronary arteries on angiography. FMD measurements were conducted following established protocols, and statistical analysis was performed using standard methods to compare FMD levels among groups. Results The groups were comparable in clinical and demographic characteristics, except for fasting plasma glucose levels. Significant differences in FMD levels were observed: 10.1% in the DM group, 16.5% in the prediabetes group, and 14.8% in the control group (P = 0.004). Diabetic patients had significantly lower FMD levels than both prediabetic and normoglycemic individuals. No significant difference in FMD was found between prediabetic and control groups. Conclusions Diabetic patients exhibited significant endothelial dysfunction compared to normoglycemic individuals, while prediabetic patients did not show similar dysfunction. These findings suggest a window of opportunity in the prediabetic stage for early intervention to prevent advanced endothelial dysfunction. Trial registration number ISRCTN Registry ISRCTN15351014. Registry date: 23/09/2024. Retrospectively registered.

The complex interactions between soil and additives such as lignin, glass powder, and rubber tires were investigated using principles of material and soil mechanics. Previous research has mainly focused on individual additives in clay soils. In contrast, this study investigates soil improvement with two different types of waste materials simultaneously. The improvement of soil properties by hybrid waste materials was evaluated using several laboratory tests, including the standard Proctor test, the unconfined compressive strength test, the California Bearing Ratio (CBR) test, and cyclic triaxial tests. The aim of this research is to identify key parameters for the design and construction of road pavements and to demonstrate that improving the subgrade with hybrid waste materials contributes significantly to the sustainability of road construction. The mechanical and physical properties were evaluated in detail to determine the optimal mixtures. The results show that the most effective mixture for the combination of waste glass powder and rubber tires contains 20% glass powder and 3% rubber tires, based on the dry weight of the soil. For the combination of waste glass powder and lignin, the optimum mixture consists of 15% glass powder and 15% lignin, based on the dry weight of the soil. These results provide valuable insights into the sustainable use of waste materials for soil stabilization in road construction projects.

Purpose: In this study, it is aimed to determine the perceptions of the patients receiving hemodialysis treatment about the nursing care they receive and to investigate the factors affecting this perception. Materials and Methods: This research was planned as a descriptive study by using quantitative research methods. The sample of the study consisted of 50 patients who were diagnosed with chronic renal failure and received hemodialysis treatment in a hospital operating in the province of Kayseri. Results: It was determined that the mean age of the hemodialysis patients included in the study was 60.23±13.60 years and the gender of 54 % was male (n=27). The total mean score of hemodialysis patients from the "Patient's Perception of Nursing Care" scale is 68.31±7.38. Conclusions: As a result of our study, it was determined that the patients' perception of care and thus their care satisfaction were at a high level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perlite mineral contains relatively high water and in general hydrated obsidian forms the perlite which is mainly an amorphous volcanic glass. Photon attenuation properties for different concrete types including natural perlite mineral and B4C have been experimentally investigated by using different radioactive point sources at 81, 276, 303, 356, 384, 662, 1173, 1275 and 1333 keV. SEM and EDAX analyses were carried out to control the crystal structure of the selected concrete types. In this work, HPGe detector based on gamma spectrometer was employed for all experiments. The results revealed that among the prepared concrete samples, the P6 concrete sample has the lowest HVL and MFP values and thus, having best ability to attenuate gamma rays in comparison to the other prepared concretes. Keywords: Radiation shielding, Attenuation coefficient, Gamma spectrometer, Perlite

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a serious condition with high mortality in intensive care units and during vascular surgeries. Renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) significantly contributes to AKI. Preclinical studies have shown that myrtenal (Myrt) has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. We hypothesized that Myrt might alleviate renal damage caused by IRI through the modulation of oxidative stress and inflammatory processes. This study aimed to investigate the renoprotective potential of Myrt against IRI using biochemical evaluations and histological examinations. Forty male Sprague Dawley rats were assigned to four groups: sham, IRI, Myrt40+IRI, and Myrt80+IRI. Animals received daily intraperitoneal injections of Myrt (40-80 mg/kg) or solvent for 9 days before surgery. The sham group underwent laparotomy, while the other groups had AKI induced via bilateral renal pedicle clamping for 45 min, followed by 24 h of reperfusion. Renal function was assessed by blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) levels. Inflammatory markers interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were measured, along with oxidative stress parameters malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione (GSH). Renal damage was evaluated histopathologically using hematoxylin and eosin staining and apoptosis was assessed via caspase-3 immunohistochemistry. In the IRI group, serum BUN and creatinine levels were significantly higher than the sham group but were reduced by Myrt pretreatment (p < 0.05). IRI also led to significant increases in MDA, KIM-1, NGAL, IL-1β, and TNF-α in kidney tissue (p < 0.05), which were notably decreased by Myrt pretreatment (p < 0.05). Myrt also restored SOD and CAT enzyme activities and GSH levels reduced by IRI (p < 0.05). Histological analysis showed Myrt significantly alleviated renal tissue damage and reduced caspase-3 immunoreactivity due to IRI (p < 0.05). The findings suggest that Myrt has a protective effect against renal IRI., (© 2025 The Author(s). Journal of Biochemical and Molecular Toxicology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Purpose: Pandemics put healthcare workers (HCWs) at risk of infections, making emergency department (ED) triage critical. This study aims to compare smart innovative self-kiosk triage (SKT) with routine triage (RT)., Patients and Methods: COVID-19-suspected ED patients enrolled. Volunteers received RT after completing SKT. The key outcomes were HCW exposure and total exposure time (TET). Secondary outcomes included participants' satisfaction with SKT., Results: The study included 115 patients with a mean age of 32.54±10.84 years old. SKT significantly reduced HCW exposures (median 0 [IQR 0-1] vs 2 [IQR 2-3], p<0.0001) and triage time (median 3 [IQR 2-3] vs 8 [IQR 5-10] minutes, p<0.0001), compared to RT. Elevated body temperature increased RT time (p=0.003), while higher education levels reduced SKT time (p=0.019). Oxygen saturation influenced HCW exposure in both methods, with higher saturation decreasing HCW exposure during RT (p=0.008) and increasing it during SKT (p=0.017). A PCR-positive status was associated with increased RT time but fewer HCW exposures. 80.0% of participants completed SKT independently. The majority of participants (72.8-82.9%) agreed or strongly agreed, based on a 4-point Likert scale, that the SKT procedure was user-friendly (mean score: 3.40±1.08), with clear instructions (3.35±1.16), easy-to-use oximetry and thermometer (3.12±1.29 and 3.31±1.16, respectively), and a reasonable time requirement (3.37±1.23)., Conclusion: Our findings suggest that emergency department self-kiosk triage can minimize medical staff exposure and time spent with COVID-19-risk patients, without compromising patient satisfaction., Competing Interests: This work is conducted solely to meet public health and medical needs during the COVID-19 pandemic following the principles outlined in Good Publication Practice Guidelines for Company-Sponsored Biomedical Research.40 This manuscript is written for the scientific exchange focusing on the needs of healthcare providers’.40 EK, GK, and AS are employees of CITS, IT R&D Center, Coskunoz Holding. They ensured that all study data classified in the medical kiosk is shared with publication working group members transparently on a timely basis. EK, GK, and AS, or any other department of the CITS, Coskunoz Holding did not get involved in the acquisition, analysis and interpretation of the data, drafting the work, and journal choice for submission. EK, GK, and AS made substantial contributions to the conception and design of the research kiosk, reviewed the final manuscript draft for intellectual content, and approved the final version for publication. Pandemic Mobile Intelligent Kiosk has a pending utility model application, a form of protection that is not recognized globally. The inventors listed on this application are GK, EK, TK, EBB, SGT, AGD, and DE. Dr Asli Gorek Dilektasli reports non-financial support from Coşkunöz Holding CITS Information Technology company (CITS Bilişim Hizmetleri ve Yazılım Sanayi Ticaret Anonim Şirketi, Bursa, Türkiye), during the conduct of the study Dr Vahide Durak reports non-financial support from Coşkunöz Holding CITS Information Technology, during the conduct of the study. Mr Engin Korkmaz reports non-financial support from Coskunoz Holding CITS Information Technology, during the conduct of the study. Mr Gorsel Kiras reports non-financial support from Coşkunöz Holding CITS Information Technology, during the conduct of the study. Mr Aykut Sen reports non-financial support from Coşkunöz Holding CITS Information Technology, during the conduct of the study. Prof. Dr. Emel Bulbul Baskan reports non-financial support from Coşkunöz Holding CITS Information Technology company (CITS Bilişim Hizmetleri ve Yazılım Sanayi Ticaret Anonim Şirketi, Bursa, Türkiye), during the conduct of the study. Prof. Dr. Sehime Temel reports non-financial support from Coskunoz Holding CITS Information Technologies, during the conduct of the study. The authors report no other conflicts of interest in this work., (© 2025 Dilektasli et al.)

Introduction: Acute rheumatic fever commonly causes carditis in children. It is critical to have biomarkers for diagnostic and prognostic purposes. We aimed to investigate the expressions of miR-101, miR-1183, and miR-1299 in children with acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease and determine their potential as diagnostic biomarkers., Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 69 paediatric acute rheumatic fever patients and 27 gender and age-matched controls. The clinical findings were noted from medical records, echocardiography was repeated, and plasma miR-101, miR-1183, and miR-1299 expressions were studied using RT-PCR., Results: Out of 54 patients with carditis, 36 developed rheumatic heart disease with significant left-sided heart involvement. No significant demographic difference was present between rheumatic heart disease patients and controls ( p > 0.05). miR-101 and miR-1183 expressions significantly reduced by 4.5-fold in acute rheumatic fever patients compared to controls ( p : 0.029 and p : 0.024, respectively). Family history was found to be significantly associated with 9-fold reduced miR-1183 expression in acute rheumatic fever patients ( p : 0.005). The expression of miR-1183 in acute rheumatic fever children with carditis in general and severe carditis was significantly reduced 4.5- and 9-fold, respectively ( p : 0.024 and p : 0.007, respectively). In acute rheumatic fever cases with moderate-severe carditis and patients who did not develop rheumatic heart disease, miR-1183 expression significantly reduced 8.3-fold and 9-fold, respectively ( p : 0.015 and p : 0.019, respectively). The ROC analysis revealed that miR-101 and miR-1183 were statistically significant for acute rheumatic fever diagnosis (AUC: 0.64 for both miRNAs)., Conclusions: Significantly lower plasma expressions of miR-101 and miR-1183 in acute rheumatic fever patients, especially in cases with moderate-severe carditis, might indicate the potential use of these miRNAs as diagnostic biomarkers.

Background: Menisci, one of the most important anatomical structures of the knee joint, plays a role in load transfer, stability, shock absorption, prevention of articular cartilage degeneration, and proprioception. Type I collagen, the main component of the meniscus, and type II collagen fibers play an important role in the stability of the knee joint. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Naturagen® 4 Joint product containing type I, II, and III collagen on pain, quality of life, and physical functions in patients with meniscopathy., Methods: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study included 32 patients (collagen = 17 and placebo = 15) with meniscopathy. Patients completed the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthrtis Index (WOMAC), Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score Physical Function Short Form (KOOS-PS), Oxford Knee Score (OKS), Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK), Short Form Health Survey (SF-12), Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS), Foot Function Index (FFI), proprioceptive sensation, Timed Up and Go (TUG), 6-Minute Walking Test (6MWT), The Five Repetition Sit to Stand Test (5STS), Stair Climbing Test (SCT), Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and back and leg strength tests and scales were applied. All tests were repeated before and after eight weeks of collagen supplementation., Results: The study showed that eight weeks of supplementation with various collagen types had statistically significant effects on pain, quality of life, kinesiophobia, and foot function scale scores in patients with meniscopathy (p < 0.05). Similarly, eight weeks of supplementation showed a statistically significant difference in leg strength (p = 0.057), but no significant difference was found in back strength, proprioception, balance, and various functional test results (p > 0.05)., Conclusions: The results of the study showed that the eight-week collagen-based supplement had a positive effect on pain and quality of life levels and some functional test results in patients with meniscopathy. Longer-term studies and diversification of subject groups will help to understand better the effects of the product on meniscal tears and symptoms., Trial Registration: The study was retrospectively registered in the Iranian Clinical Trials Registry on 14/05/2024 with the number IRCT20240411061470N2., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: This study was conducted in compliance with the ethical principles stated in the Declaration of Helsinki and ICH Good Clinical Practice guidelines. Ethics committee approval was obtained from Sinop University Human Research Ethics Committee (protocol no: 2023/182) and registered in the Iranian Clinical Trials Registry on 14/05/2024 with the number IRCT20240411061470N2. Participants were included in the study after written informed consent forms were collected. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of Naturagen® 4 Joint product, containing type 1, 2, and 3 collagen, on pain associated with osteoarthritis (OA) and to evaluate its effects on quality of life and physical functioning., Patients and Methods: This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical study included a total of 31 patients (8 males, 23 females; mean age: 53.5±9.1 years; range, 35 to 65 years) with Grade 2-3 OA according to the Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) classification system between June 2023 and November 2023. The patients were divided into two groups: a collagen group (n=16) and a placebo group (n=15). The Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS-PS), Oxford Knee Score (OKS), Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK), Short Form Health Survey (SF-12), Foot Function Index (FFI), Timed Up and Go (TUG), 6-Min Walking Test (6MWT), Five Repetition Sit to Stand Test (5STS), Stair Climbing Test (SCT), and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) were used. All tests were performed before and after eight weeks of collagen supplementation., Results: Eight weeks of collagen supplementation yielded notable enhancements across all osteoarthritis-related pain and quality of life scales evaluated, including VAS, WOMAC, KOOS-PS, OKS, TSK, SF-12, and FFI scores (p<0.05). In functional evaluations, there were significant positive effects of collagen use in BBS and 6MWT results (p<0.05). In TUG, 5STS, and SCT tests, no significant difference was found between the groups (p>0.05)., Conclusion: Our study results suggest that the eight-week collagen-based supplement exerts a favorable effect on pain and quality of life levels, as well as some functional test results.

Background: Total hip arthroplasty, commonly performed to alleviate hip pain and enhance functionality in elderly patients, requires effective postoperative pain management to reduce opioid consumption and its associated side effects. A novel regional anaesthesia technique, the sacral erector spinae plane block, has the potential to enhance the quality of postoperative recovery significantly., Methods: This prospective, randomized, controlled multicenter study investigated the effects of the sacral erector spinae plane block on recovery quality in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty. The study comprised 50 patients, divided into Group S (patients receiving patients receiving sacral erector spinae plane block [S-ESPB]) and Group C (patients getting just multimodal analgesia). The primary outcome measured was the Quality of Recovery-15 score 24 hours post-surgery. Secondary outcomes included postoperative numerical rating scale scores (A score of 0 indicates no pain, while 10 indicates the most severe pain), total consumption of rescue analgesics, time to first rescue analgesic administration, patient satisfaction, time to first ambulation, the occurrence of complications, and the need for antiemetics., Results: Group S had markedly higher quality of recovery-15 scores compared to Group C (Group S: median 117 percentiles [97-121]; Group C: median 89 percentiles [75-96]; P<0.001). Group S scored higher in postoperative pain, physical comfort, support, emotional state, and general quality of recovery-15 (P<0.001). Nevertheless, the physical independence category ratings were comparable across both groups (P=0.286)., Conclusions: Sacral erector spinae plane block is a promising analgesic technique that enhances postoperative recovery and patient comfort in total hip arthroplasty.

This review offers a detailed examination of the current landscape of radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic field (EMF) assessment tools, ranging from spectrum analyzers and broadband field meters to area monitors and custom-built devices. The discussion encompasses both standardized and non-standardized measurement protocols, shedding light on the various methods employed in this domain. Furthermore, the review highlights the prevalent use of mobile apps for characterizing 5G NR radio network data. A growing need for low-cost measurement devices is observed, commonly referred to as "sensors" or "sensor nodes", that are capable of enduring diverse environmental conditions. These sensors play a crucial role in both microenvironmental surveys and individual exposures, enabling stationary, mobile, and personal exposure assessments based on body-worn sensors, across wider geographical areas. This review revealed a notable need for cost-effective and long-lasting sensors, whether for individual exposure assessments, mobile (vehicle-integrated) measurements, or incorporation into distributed sensor networks. However, there is a lack of comprehensive information on existing custom-developed RF-EMF measurement tools, especially in terms of measuring uncertainty. Additionally, there is a need for real-time, fast-sampling solutions to understand the highly irregular temporal variations EMF distribution in next-generation networks. Given the diversity of tools and methods, a comprehensive comparison is crucial to determine the necessary statistical tools for aggregating the available measurement data., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Due to the potential for Aspergillus species to cause lethal infections and the rising rates of antifungal resistance, the significance of antifungal susceptibility tests has increased. We aimed to assess the sensitivities of Aspergillus species to amphotericin B (AMB), voriconazole (VOR), itraconazole (ITZ), and caspofungin (CAS) using disk diffusion (DD) and gradient diffusion (GD) methods and compare them with broth microdilution (BMD) as the reference susceptibility method., Methods: The study involved 62 Aspergillus fumigatus, 28 Aspergillus flavus, and 16 Aspergillus terreus isolates, totaling 106 Aspergillus isolates. BMD and DD methods were performed in accordance with CLSI M38-A2 and CLSI M51-A documents, respectively. The GD method utilized nonsupplemented Mueller Hinton agar (MHA) as the medium., Results: In the BMD method, the lowest minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) 90 or minimal effective concentration (MEC) 90 values were observed for VOR and CAS (0.5 μg/mL and 0.06 μg/mL, respectively). AMB and ITZ MIC 90 values were both 2 μg/mL. In our comparison of the GD method with the BMD method at ±2 dilution, we observed essential agreement rates of 91.6%, 99.1%, 100%, and 38.6% for AMB, VOR, ITZ, and CAS, respectively. When comparing DD and BMD methods, we found categorical agreement rates of 65.1%, 99.1%, 77.3%, and 100% for AMB, VOR, ITZ, and CAS, respectively. For GD and BMD methods, these rates were 79.2%, 99.1%, 87.8%, and 100%., Conclusions: Given the high essential and categorical agreement rates, we posit that the GD method is a viable alternative to the BMD method for AMB, ITZ and VOR but not for CAS. In addition, the use of nonsupplemented MHA in the GD method proves advantageous due to its cost-effectiveness and widespread availability compared to other growth media., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Indian Association of Medical Microbiologists. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background and Objectives: Fibromyalgia syndrome (FM) is a chronic pain disorder that is ranked as one of the four most common rheumatological diseases in the world. This study aims to investigate the effects of an eight-week mat Pilates and electro-muscle stimulation (EMS) with combined mat Pilates exercises on pain, depression, anxiety, and strength in sedentary women., Methods: This study is a single-blind randomized controlled trial. A total of 30 sedentary female patients (Pilates (n = 15), EMS (n = 15)) diagnosed with FM were included in the study. The patients were subjected to Beck Depression (BDIs) and Anxiety Inventories (BAIs); a Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ); five different Single-Leg Hop Tests (SLHTs); modified push-up (MPU), Handgrip Strength (HGS), Deep Squat (DSQ), V-Sit Flexor, bent-arm hang (BA), sit-up and Biering-Sørensen tests; and anthropometric tests before and after the 8-week exercise program., Results: The eight weeks of mat Pilates exercises combined with mat Pilates and EMS revealed significant results ( p < 0.05) in anthropometric data (abdomen, lower abdomen, hips) ( p < 0.05) except for the results of chest circumference measurements ( p > 0.05). In addition, there were statistically significant positive results in BDIs, BAIs, FIQs, lower extremity (all SLHTs and DSQ), upper extremity (MPU, HGS, BA), and core (V-SIT, sit-up, Biering-Sørensen test) strength test findings ( p < 0.05)., Conclusions: Combining the mat Pilates exercises with EMS is an effective and reliable method to improve the pain, anxiety, depression, and strength of female patients diagnosed with FM.