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The study aimed to determine the relationship between general nurses' mental health literacy and beliefs toward mental illness. The study involved 285 nurses aged 23 to 47 from three hospitals in western Turkey, who completed the Mental Health Literacy Scale (MHLS) and the Beliefs Toward Mental Illness Scale (BMIS) between December 2023 and March 2024. Those who received training on mental illnesses as students (t = 2.115, p = 0.018), those who had moderate knowledge about mental illnesses (F = 8.177, p < 0.001), those who were willing to receive training on mental illnesses (t = 1.673, p = 0.048), those who encounter individuals with mental illness in their work units (F = 11.233, p < 0.001) and those who care for individuals with mental illness in their work units (t = 1.808, p = 0.036) have higher mental health literacy levels. There was a negative relationship between nurses' negative beliefs toward mental illness levels and their mental health literacymental health literacy levels (r = −0.432, p < 0.001). Mental health literacy is a crucial element in reducing general nurses' negative beliefs about mental illnesses. Thıus, psychiatric mental health nurses can actively prevent negative beliefs and increase awareness by providing mental health education to general nurses. Awareness programs should be accorded greater emphasize on individuals who are not trained in mental disorders when they are students, those who have low knowledge about mental disorders, those who are reluctant to receive training on mental disorders, and cohorts of nurses who are likely to encounter patients with mental disorders in their respective work units. • The mental health literacy of nurses working in general services was above the average. • Nurses working in general wards have negative attitudes toward mental illness. • Negative attitudes of nurses working in general wards toward mental health diseases affect their mental health literacy level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Boron is present as several different components in nature. Besides its industrial use, it is an essential element and is playing a very important role in the metabolism. In this study, it was aimed to determine the in vivo effects of boron on mRNA expression of HEX, NANOG, and OCT-3/4 genes in embryo and histological changes during fetal development. Therefore, totally 60 female rats were allocated into 5 equal groups. Experimental groups are as the followings; positive control (fed with standart rat diet), negative control (fed with boron free diet), low boron group (fed with boron free diet and given 0.04 μg boron/ml via gastric gavage), marginal boron group (fed with boron free diet and given 0.3 μg boron/ml via gastric gavage) and normal boron group (fed with boron free diet and given 2 μg boron/ml via gastric gavage). Experimental period was performed for 14 days. Embryos were collected after 4 days of mating and the expression and protein levels of early embryonic genes namely HEX, NANOG, and OCT-3/4 were determined by using Real-Time PCR. Also, 10–20 day embryo and fetus development were histologically determined. According to the results, mRNA expression and protein levels of early embryonic genes were increased in boron groups while decreased in boron deficient group. Histopathologically, tissue and organ developments were definitely observed in the boron groups. In conclusion, mRNA expression levels of early embryonic genes decreased in boron deficient group and boron has an important role for fetal development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellular automata have rich computational properties and provide many models in mathematical and physical processes. In this paper, one of the most commonly used neighborhood types of two dimensional (2D) cellular automata which is called the Moore neighborhood in two dimensional integer lattice is considered. We study the characterization of 2D linear cellular automata defined by the Moore neighborhood with periodic and null boundary conditions over ternary fields. Furthermore, we analyze some results of 2D cellular automata defined by the rule number 9840NB and finally also present applications to error correcting codes and image processing field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

137Cs and 241Pu (via 241Am) concentrations were measured γ-spectrometrically on air filters from the early 1960s (mainly from 1964–66) from Vienna, Austria, and an alpine station in Salzburg, Austria. Accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) was used to determine 240Pu/239Pu, 236U/238U and 233U/236U atom ratios as well as 236U, 239Pu and 240Pu atom concentrations. The maximum 236U/238U atom ratio of these unique undisturbed global fallout samples was (1.19 ± 0.31) × 10−5 in spring 1964. The 233U/236U atom ratios were found within (0.15–0.49) × 10−2 and indicate that the weapons tests of the early 1960s can be excluded as 233U source. The 236U/239Pu atom ratios were calculated in the range of 0.22–0.48. • 3 months average values of 240Pu/239Pu, 236U/238U and 233U/236U atom ratios of aerosols from the early 1960s. • 233U/236U atom ratios support the hypothesis of maximum 233U release already in the 1950s. • The nuclear weapons tests of the early 1960s can be exclude as a possible 233U source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we consider the theoretical structure and classification of two-dimensional (2D) three-state uniform cellular automata (CA) based on their visual behavior. The basic features of a CA comprise their discrete dynamic structure and the fact that they are modeled locally, but their behavior can be similar to a continuous system at large time and spatial scales. The geometrical structures of the patterns produced by iterating CA can be considered according to some basic properties. After applying the rules iteratively, it has been shown that CA are capable of producing complex behaviors. Some types of CA exhibit remarkably regular behavior with finite configurations. With simple initial configurations, the patterns generated may be self-replicating (SR), self-similar (SS), or mixed. In this study, we consider the theory of 2D uniform periodic boundary (PB), adiabatic boundary (AB), and reflexive boundary (RB) CA with a von Neumann neighborhood, and applications of image analysis for generating patterns. We investigate a 2D CA under these boundary restrictions for three-state cases, i.e., the ternary field Z 3 . We also study the applications of SR and SS patterns that correspond to the linear CA rules of 2D uniform CA with different boundary cases over Z 3 . The von Neumann neighborhood CA rule (i.e., Rule 2460) is classified into SR and SS types depending on the non-zero boundary values a , b , c , d of the neighboring cells that influence the cells under consideration. Based on the visual appearance of the patterns, we also show that Rule 2460 is sometimes sensitive, depending on the boundary conditions and chaotic behavior. Finally, we conclude by analyzing some results in detail for CA defined by Rules 2460NB, 2460PB, 2460AB, and 2460RB for non-symmetric figures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we discuss the application of two-dimensional linear cellular automata (CA) rules with the help of fuzzy heuristic membership function to the problems of edge detection in image processing applications. We proposed an efficient and simple thresholding technique of edge detection based on fuzzy cellular automata transition rules optimized by Particle Swarm Optimization method (PSO). Finally, we present some results of the proposed linear rules for edge detection to the selected 22 images from the Berkeley Segmentation Dataset (BSDS) and compare with some classical Sobel and Canny results. Also, Baddeley Delta Metric (BDM) is used for the performance index to compare the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This article describes an outbreak of meningitis caused by Serratia marcescens in patients who had undergone spinal anaesthesia for caesarean section. Bacterial meningitis was diagnosed in 12 of the 46 patients who underwent a caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia in a 75-bed private hospital between 6th and 14th March 2011. S. marcescens was isolated from samples taken from four prefilled syringes and one bag containing 5% dextrose with norepinephrine, suggesting that medications used in spinal anaesthesia were contaminated extrinsically. Strategies for prevention of anaesthesia-associated infections in operating theatres are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: The relationship between maternal psychiatric disorders and fetal neurodevelopment is unclear. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is relatively frequent during pregnancy. The study aimed to investigate whether maternal OCD during pregnancy affects fetal circulating tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels, an important pro-inflammatory cytokine, by comparing cord blood TNF-α levels in newborn infants of women with and without OCD. Methods: The study sample included 7 women with OCD and 30 healthy women. OCD and other psychiatric diagnoses were screened by means of the Structured Clinical Interview for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition. The blood sample for the determination of TNF-α level was obtained from the umbilical cord during delivery. Results: Cord blood TNF-α levels in newborn infants exposed to maternal OCD were significantly higher compared to non-exposed infants. Maternal anxiety symptom level was found to positively correlate with cord blood TNF-α levels in newborn infants of women with OCD. Conclusion: The study results imply that maternal OCD during pregnancy may lead to neuroinflammation in the developing fetal brain through higher levels of circulating TNF-α. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A 2-D rectangular cavity subject to a horizontal temperature gradient imposed on its upper boundary induces a naturally convective flow, leading to two surprising results. First, at large Rayleigh numbers (Ra) two boundary layers appear driving the flow in such a way that heat is removed from the cold part of the fluid and released into the hot region of the fluid, generating a dynamical “heat pump”. Second, a narrow region of pulsating oscillatory flow appears in the vicinity of the boundary layer which is at the vertical wall adjoining the cold edge of the upper boundary. These pulsations occur when Ra exceeds a critical value, , and are associated with large downward and upward vertical flows that appear simultaneously near this vertical wall. The rest of the cavity is principally a “dead” cold region with weak flows. This region is the heat source of the heat pump. It occupies the main part of the cavity which progressively gets colder while the horizontal thermal boundary layer progressively gets hotter with increasing Ra. We explain the physics of these phenomena via numerical calculations that employ a spectral Chebyshev method. It is shown, for the first time, that the curve of versus the aspect ratio is non-monotonic. It is also shown that the fundamental frequency of the oscillations, , increases monotonically with the aspect ratio of the cavity that we have considered. Physical reasons are advanced to explain our observations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] A new image denoising algorithm is proposed to restore digital images corrupted by impulse noise. [•] It is based on two dimensional cellular automata (CA) with the help of fuzzy logic theory. [•] The algorithm describes a local fuzzy transition rule to filter image salt and pepper noises effectively. [•] The proposed method removes the noise effectively even at noise level as high as 90%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objectives: The study aimed to investigate whether maternal GAD during pregnancy affects fetal circulating brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which plays important roles in neuronal development, by comparing cord blood BDNF levels in newborn infants of women with and without GAD. Methods: Study sample included 19 women with GAD and 25 women without any psychiatric disorder. GAD and other psychiatric diagnoses were screened by means of the Structured Clinical Interview for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition. The blood sample for the determination of BDNF level was obtained from the umbilical cord during delivery. Results: Cord blood BDNF levels in newborn infants of healthy women were approximately two-fold compared to newborn infants of women with GAD, and the difference was statistically significant. The duration of GAD during pregnancy was the only variable correlating with cord blood BDNF levels. Conclusions: The study results imply that prolonged maternal GAD during pregnancy may negatively influence neurodevelopment of the fetus through lower levels of circulating BDNF. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study aims to examine the association between glucose tolerance abnormality and depression and anxiety in pregnant women. One hundred and sixty-seven women with gestational ages ranging from 24 to 28 weeks were screened with the 50 g oral glucose challenge test. All participants were assessed with the Beck Depression Inventory and the Beck Anxiety Inventory. The rate of depression was higher in women with abnormal glucose results (44.3%) than in women with normal glucose results (21.7%). Similarly, depressed women had higher glucose levels than non-depressed women. Findings suggest that depression and anxiety may be associated with glucose tolerance abnormality in pregnant women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: The objective was to determine the current prevalence of Axis I and Axis II psychiatric diagnoses in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Method: The study sample included 73 patients with PCOS and 73 control subjects. Psychiatric disorders were determined by structured clinical interviews. Results: The rate of any Axis I psychiatric disorder (28.8% vs. 15.1%), social phobia (13.7% vs. 2.7%), generalized anxiety disorder (11.0% vs. 1.4%), any Axis II psychiatric disorder (23.3% vs. 9.6%) and avoidant personality disorder (12.3% vs. 1.4%) was significantly more common in the patient group compared to the control group. Of women with PCOS, 21 (28.8%) had at least one Axis I and 17 (23.3%) had at least one Axis II diagnosis. The most common Axis I disorder was social phobia (13.7%) and the most common Axis II disorder was avoidant personality disorder (12.3%) in women with PCOS. Social phobia, generalized anxiety disorder, and avoidant personality disorder were significantly more common in the patient group compared to the control group. Conclusion: Our results suggest that a considerable proportion of women with PCOS also present with anxiety and personality disorders. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: This study presents the current prevalence of mood, anxiety and personality disorders and factors associated with the existence of psychiatric disorders in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods: The study sample was comprised of 45 patients with SLE and 60 control subjects. Mood and anxiety disorders were ascertained by means of the Structured Clinical Interview for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition/Clinical Version. Personality disorders were diagnosed with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM, Revised Third Edition Personality Disorders. The disease activity was assessed with SLE Disease Activity Index. Results: Of the 45 patients, 21 (46.7%) had at least one mood or anxiety disorder, and 16 (35.6%) had at least one personality disorder. The most common Axis I and Axis II diagnoses in the patient group were major depression (22.2%) and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (20.0%), respectively. Specifically, major depression, generalized anxiety disorder and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder were more prevalent in the SLE group compared to the control group. The existence of Axis I disorders was associated with a more severe disease activity of SLE. Conclusion: Mood and anxiety disorders, particularly major depression and generalized anxiety disorder, are frequently observed in patients with SLE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this paper we study the flow and heat transfer in a chemically-reacting fluid, whose transport properties, i.e., viscosity, thermal conductivity and the diffusion coefficients, are assumed to be a function of the concentration. The equations for the shearing flow of such a fluid between two long horizontal parallel plates, which are at different temperatures, are made dimensionless and the boundary value problem is solved numerically; the velocity, concentration and temperature profiles are obtained for various dimensionless numbers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]