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We investigated the corrosion properties and transpassive behavior of CrMnFeCoNi and CrCoNi multi‐principal element alloys (MPEAs) in a 0.1 M NaCl electrolyte at pH 12. By using SECM‐based tip substrate voltammetry (TSV) in combination with the chemical analysis of the electrolyte, we were able to differentiate between anodic metal dissolution and oxygen evolution in the transpassive range. Our investigations have shown that CrCoNi has a significantly higher corrosion resistance compared to CrMnFeCoNi. In the studied alkaline environment, a transpassive oxide film is formed on the surface of CrCoNi during secondary passivation. This transpassive oxide film appears to play a significant role in oxygen evolution, as the increase in TSV currents at the microelectrode coincides with the corresponding current density plateau of the voltametric current trace. The formation of the transpassive oxide film was not observed in previous studies conducted in acidic environments. Moreover, the alkaline electrolyte induced a positive hysteresis and mild pitting corrosion, in addition to intergranular corrosion, which was the sole corrosion process observed at acidic pH levels. These findings enhance the understanding of the processes governing the transpassivity of CrMnFeCoNi and CrCoNi MPEAs in alkaline environments and have potential implications for the development of application‐tailored corrosion‐resistant MPEAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:Hand hygiene compliances of healthcare students have been examined extensively. However, there has been no study in this area for the students of the department of physiotherapy and rehabilitation. The aim was to evaluate hand hygiene compliance of the department of physiotherapy and rehabilitation students after a briefing on hand hygiene. Methods: Before the summer practice, the students were briefed on hand hygiene. Then their hand hygiene compliance were assessed. Their sociodemographic characteristics, clinical summer practice data, and hand hygiene compliance based on the recommendations commented in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Guideline for hand hygiene in Health Care Settings were assessed with a questionnaire prepared by the researchers. Results: Of 53 students, 52 met inclusion criteria. The average correct answer rate was 82.69%. Students had inadequacies in selecting suitable hand hygiene techniques and in complying with hand hygiene indications in some situations related to their profession. Moreover, the students suggested that there was a great need for education (n=24;39.34%) and improvements in physical conditions (n= 21;34.43%). Conclusions: As a conclusion, department of physiotherapy and rehabilitation students were aware of the importance of hand hygiene in terms of prevention of healthcare associated infections. However, for department of physiotherapy and rehabilitation students, educational programs about hand hygiene is needed in order to gain optimal competence and to be able to protect and improve health care workers and patients safety.

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Multi‐principal element alloys (MPEAs) are gaining interest in corrosion and electrocatalysis research due to their electrochemical stability across a broad pH range and the design flexibility they offer. Using the equimolar CrCoNi alloy, we observe significant metal dissolution in a corrosive electrolyte (0.1 M NaCl, pH 2) concurrently with the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in the transpassive region, despite the absence of hysteresis in polarization curves or other obvious corrosion indicators. We present a characterization scheme to delineate the contribution of OER and alloy dissolution, using scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) for OER‐onset detection, and quantitative chemical analysis with inductively coupled‐mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS) and ultraviolet visible light (UV/Vis) spectrometry to elucidate metal dissolution processes. In situ electrochemical atomic force microscopy (EC‐AFM) revealed that the transpassive metal dissolution on CrCoNi is dominated by intergranular corrosion. These results have significant implications for the stability of MPEAs in corrosion systems, emphasizing the necessity of analytically determining metal ions released from MPEA electrodes into the electrolyte when evaluating Faradaic efficiencies of OER catalysts. The release of transition metal ions not only reduces the Faradaic efficiency of electrolyzers but may also cause poisoning and degradation of membranes in electrochemical reactors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the sustainability of water resources, the recovery of water, organic matter (OM), energy, and nutrients from municipal wastewater become very attractive resources. As direct application of water, nutrient, and energy recovery from municipal wastewater cannot be feasible, the wastewater needed to be concentrated. In this study, the molecular weight distribution of OM content was determined in wastewater samples, up-concentration potential of direct microfiltration (DMF) of municipal wastewater and water recovery were investigated. In OM fractionation studies, around 52% of the chemical oxygen demand (COD) in wastewater was particulate or colloidal (>10 kDa) and 48% was soluble (<300 Da). In DMF tests, the COD concentration was concentrated up to 1,573 mg/L after sequential DMF experiments. Additionally, the theoretic total energy requirement of the DMF process was found around 0.3 kWh/m3 and it would be potentially energy positive. In crossflow experiments, the reverse osmosis (RO) process was performed using DMF effluent. When microfiltration and RO membranes were chemically cleaned, flux recovery rates of 100% and 99% were achieved, respectively. However, the foulants could not be completely removed during the cleaning according to scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and attenuated total reflection-Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy results of the virgin, fouled, and cleaned membranes. This study reveals that the DMF+RO process is a promising technology for the recovery of OM and water from municipal wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pressure ulcers can develop in bedridden or immobile patients which physiotherapists frequently encounter. Although physiotherapists receive training for preventing pressure ulcers, there is limited evidence of physiotherapists' knowledge level. Our study evaluated physiotherapists' pressure ulcer prevention knowledge. The level of knowledge for pressure ulcer prevention was inquired with the Turkish version of the Pressure Ulcer Prevention Knowledge Assessment Instrument (PUPKAI‐T). Two hundred and sixty‐five physiotherapists participated in our study. The median PUPKAI‐T total score ranged from 8 to 21. Only two physiotherapists (0.8%) got good points from the questionnaire. The highest score was Nutrition (Theme 4; 59.2%), and the lowest score belonged to the contact preventive interventions that reduce pressure/shearing (Theme 5; 26.7%). The question with the lowest success rate was the positioning question of Theme 5 (Question 2; 12.5%). In our study, physiotherapists' pressure ulcer prevention knowledge was evaluated with a relatively high number of participants compared to the literature. These results brought to mind that training programs that specifically emphasise techniques to prevent pressure ulcers and positioning manoeuvres to be organised increase the knowledge level of physiotherapists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growth factors are a class of proteins that play a role in the proliferation (the increase in the number of cells resulting from cell division) and differentiation (when a cell undergoes changes in gene expression becoming a more specific type of cell) of cells. They can have both positive (accelerating the normal healing process) and negative effects (causing cancer) on disease progression and have potential applications in gene therapy and wound healing. However, their short half-life, low stability, and susceptibility to degradation by enzymes at body temperature make them easily degradable in vivo. To improve their effectiveness and stability, growth factors require carriers for delivery that protect them from heat, pH changes, and proteolysis. These carriers should also be able to deliver the growth factors to their intended destination. This review focuses on the current scientific literature concerning the physicochemical properties (such as biocompatibility, high affinity for binding growth factors, improved bioactivity and stability of the growth factors, protection from heat, pH changes or appropriate electric charge for growth factor attachment via electrostatic interactions) of macroions, growth factors, and macroion-growth factor assemblies, as well as their potential uses in medicine (e.g., diabetic wound healing, tissue regeneration, and cancer therapy). Specific attention is given to three types of growth factors: vascular endothelial growth factors, human fibroblast growth factors, and neurotrophins, as well as selected biocompatible synthetic macroions (obtained through standard polymerization techniques) and polysaccharides (natural macroions composed of repeating monomeric units of monosaccharides). Understanding the mechanisms by which growth factors bind to potential carriers could lead to more effective delivery methods for these proteins, which are of significant interest in the diagnosis and treatment of neurodegenerative and civilization diseases, as well as in the healing of chronic wounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: There is evidence that suicidal thoughts are increased in attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between executive function (EF) deficits and emotion regulation negativity/lability (ERNL) in children with ADHD who reported suicidal ideation. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in children aged 8-12 years with ADHD. Thirty-eight cases (ADHD + SI) with suicidal ideation and 41 cases without suicidal ideation (pure ADHD) were included in the study. Participants completed using the Children's depression inventory (CDI), the Screen for child anxiety-related emotional disorders (SCARED), the Behavior rating inventory of executive function (BRIEF) and the Emotion regulation checklist (ERC). Results: A significant difference was found between the 3 groups in terms of EF deficits and ERNL, CDI and SCARED. BRIEF subcomponents; there was a significant difference between inhibit, emotion control, monitor and behavior regulation index. Conclusion: Suicidal ideation is an important psychiatric health problem. Recognizing suicidal ideation in children; It can be effective in preventing suicidal behavior. Cognitive features such as EF deficits and ERNL may contribute negatively to suicidal ideation, especially in children with ADHD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of characterization methods with high spatial resolution to the analysis of buried coating/metal interfaces requires the design and use of model systems. Herein, an epoxy‐like thin film is used as a model coating resembling the epoxy‐based coatings and adhesives widely used in technical applications. Spin coating is used for the deposition of a 30 nm‐thin bilayer (BL) composed of poly‐(ethylenimine) (PEI) and poly[(o‐cresyl glycidyl ether)‐co‐formaldehyde] (CNER). Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) results confirm that the exposure of coated AA2024‐T3 (AA) samples to the corrosive electrolyte solution does not cause the degradation of the polymer layer. In situ atomic force microscopy (AFM) studies are performed to monitor local corrosion processes at the buried interface of the epoxy‐like film and the AA2024‐T3 aluminum alloy surface in an aqueous electrolyte solution. Hydrogen evolution due to the reduction of water as the cathodic corrosion reaction leads to local blister formation. Based on the results of the complementary energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis performed at the same region of interest, most of the hydrogen evolved originates at the vicinity of Mg‐containing intermetallic particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to develop polymeric thin films for corrosion protection of magnesium alloy AZ31. As polymer matrix, poly(4‐vinyl pyridine) (P4VP) is selected due to its semiconducting properties and protonic conductivity. Polyacrylic acid is tested as crosslinking layers to improve interfacial adhesion. The macroscopic corrosion properties of the multilayer coatings are investigated by means of electrochemical methods, such as linear sweep voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), in corrosive media simulating technical and biomedical applications. It is demonstrated that thin multilayer coatings can suppress the corrosion rates of magnesium alloys. To our best knowledge, this is the first demonstration of the use of P4VP as a conducting polymer film with protonic conductivity for corrosion protection of magnesium alloys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abtract: The initial attachment and subsequent biofilm formation of electroactive bacteria Shewanella putrefaciens CN32 was investigated to clarify the influence of organic conditioning layers. A selection of macromolecules and self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs) of different chain lengths and functional groups were prepared and characterized by means of infrared spectroscopy in terms of their chemistry. Surface energy and Zeta (ζ‐) potential of the conditioning layers was determined with contact angle and streaming current measurements. Among the studied surface parameters, a high polar component and a high ratio of polar‐to‐disperse components of the surface energy has emerged as a successful indicator for the inhibition of the initial settlement of S. putrefaciens on stainless steel AISI 304 surfaces. Considering the negative surface charge of planktonic S. putrefaciens cells, and the strong inhibition of cell attachment by positively charged polyethylenimine (PEI) conditioning layers, our results indicate that electrostatic interactions do play a subordinate role in controlling the attachment of this microorganism on stainless steel AISI 304 surfaces. For the biofilm formation, the organization of the SAMs affected the local distribution of the biofilms. The formation of three‐dimensional and patchy biofilm networks was promoted with increasing disorder of the SAMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most common diagnoses after childhood sexual abuse are Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and depression. The aim of this study is to design a decision support system to help psychiatry physicians in the treatment of childhood sexual abuse. Computer aided decision support system (CADSS) based on ANN, which predicts the development of PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder, using different parameters of the act of abuse and patients was designed. The data of 149 girls and 21 boys who were victims of sexual abuse were included in the study. In the designed CADDS, the gender of the victim, the type of sexual abuse, the age of exposure, the duration until reporting, the time of abuse, the proximity of the abuser to the victim, number of sexual abuse, whether the child is exposed to threats and violence during the abuse, the person who reported the event, and the intelligence level of the victim are used as input parameters. The average accuracy values for all three designed systems were calculated as 99.2%. It has been shown that the system designed by using these data can be used safely in the psychiatric assessment process, in order to differentiate psychiatric diagnoses in the early post-abuse period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to examine the effects of the assault on mental health with the time since the event of sexual assault, the characteristics of the perpetrator and the victim, and psychiatric diagnoses. A retrospective examination was made of the records of 105 cases of sexual assault of all age groups, who were referred for forensic psychiatric examination by the forensic authorities between 1 January 2012 and 30 December 2017 to the Inonu University Medical Faculty Health Committee for the Determination of Sexual Abuse/Assault Crimes. In the examination, the characteristics of the abuse, the type of sexual assault and effects on mental health, psychiatric diagnoses of the victim after the event, and psychiatric diagnoses made after examination by the committee were evaluated retrospectively. The 105 cases examined comprised 83 (79%) females and 22 (21%) males with a mean age of 14.3±7.4 years, and 22 (21%) cases aged ≥18 years. The types of sexual assault were non-penetrative assault in 56 (53.3%) cases and penetrative assault in 49 (46.7%). Mental health impairment at a level that impaired functionality was determined in 52 (49.5%) cases and at a level that did not impair functionality in 53 (50.5%) cases. It seems to be inevitable that mental health is affected following sexual assault. Moreover, a mental disorder at a level that will impair the functionality of the victim may emerge with the passage of time since the sexual assault and the degree of this impairment may only be revealed with examinations made after a certain time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biofilm formation and microbially influenced corrosion of the iron‐reducing microorganism Shewanella putrefaciens were investigated on stainless steel surfaces preconditioned in the absence and presence of flavin molecules by means of XANES (X‐ray absorption near‐edge structure) analysis and electrochemical methods. The results indicate that biofilm formation was promoted on samples preconditioned in electrolytes containing minute amounts of flavins. On the basis of the XANES results, the corrosion processes are controlled by the iron‐rich outer layer of the passive film. Biofilm formation resulted in a cathodic shift of the open circuit potential and a protective effect in terms of pitting corrosion. The samples preconditioned in the absence of flavins have shown delayed pitting and the samples preconditioned in the presence of flavins did not show any pitting in a window of −0.3‐ to +0.0‐V overpotential in the bacterial medium. The results indicate that changes in the passive film chemistry induced by the presence of minute amounts of flavins during a mild anodic polarization can change the susceptibility of stainless steel surfaces to microbially influenced corrosion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stainless steel AISI 304 surfaces were studied after a mild anodic polarization for oxide growth in the presence and absence of two derivatives of vitamin B2 (riboflavin and flavin mononucleotide) that can be secreted by metal‐reducing bacteria and act as a chelating agent for iron species. The alterations in oxide chemistry were studied by means of surface‐sensitive techniques such as X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry analysis. The complementary electrochemical characterization revealed a preferential growth of an oxide/hydroxide iron‐rich film that is responsible for an altered pit initiation and nucleation behavior. These findings suggest that as the corrosion behavior is determined by the interplay of the chemical and electronic properties, only a mild anodic polarization in the presence of redox‐active molecules is able to alter the chemical and electronic structure of the passive film formed on stainless steel AISI 304. This helps to achieve a profound understanding of the mechanisms of microbially influenced corrosion (MIC) and especially the possible effects of the redox‐active biomolecules, as they may play an important role in the corrosion susceptibility of stainless steel surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to develop nanometer‐thin epoxy‐based films on aluminium alloy AA2024‐T3 as a model coating system for high resolution corrosion studies. Spin coating was used for the layer‐by‐layer (LbL) deposition of poly‐(ethylenimine) (PEI) and poly([o‐cresyl glycidyl ether]‐co‐formaldehyde) (CNER) bilayers. The film chemistry and the cross‐linking process were characterized by means of Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Ellipsometric data confirmed the linear increase of film thickness. The potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) results indicate the improvement of the film barrier properties with increasing film thickness. Mapping of the topography and the volta potential was performed by means of scanning Kelvin probe force microscopy (SKPFM). The results indicate the presence of a homogeneous film structure, while the intermetallic phases can still be identified below the coating. The SKPFM analysis confirmed that the model films are suitable for investigation of corrosion processes at the coating/metal interface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Continual attendance at clinical follow-ups of children and adolescents after inpatient psychiatric treatment is an important problem affecting morbidity and mortality. In this study we aimed to research the follow-up attendance rates after hospital discharge and influencing factors in a child and adolescent psychiatric inpatient clinic. Material and Methods: Patient data between 2013 and 2016 were retrospectively investigated and cases with at least 3 months of history after discharge were included in the study. After discharge, cases who attended the following first 2 consecutive clinic appointments were accepted as attending follow-up. Variables related to sociodemographic characteristics, psychiatric diagnosis, applied treatment, kind of admission and discharge, duration of stay, applied psychometric scale scores were also recorded. Results: Two-hundred and fourty-one cases (65.7%) attended the first two consecutive appointments, while 126 cases (34.3%) did not attend a total of 367 cases. Low socioeconomic level and alcohol use were found to be associated independently with lower attendance rates while pharmacotherapy, admission from outpatient clinic and those with first-degree relatives who had mental disorders associated independently with higher attendance rates. Conclusion: Regular and consistent follow-up after discharge from children and adolescents may be an important indicator of compliance with treatment. Studies have reported that repeated psychiatric admissions to hospital are lower among patients who are compliant with treatment compared to those who do not comply. We believe our study will contribute to the literature on understanding the attendance rates and effective factors for clinical check-ups after discharge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) is regarded as the main culprit of microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC), mainly due to the low reported corrosion rates of other microorganisms. For example, the highest reported corrosion rate for methanogens is 0.065 mm/yr. However, by investigating methanogen-induced microbiologically influenced corrosion (Mi-MIC) using an in-house developed versatile multiport flow test column, extremely high corrosion rates were observed. We analyzed a large set of carbon steel beads, which were sectionally embedded into the test columns as substrates for iron-utilizing methanogen Methanobacterium IM1. After 14 days of operation using glass beads as fillers for section separation, the highest average corrosion rate of Methanobacterium IM1 was 0.2 mm/yr, which doubled that of Desulfovibrio ferrophilus IS5 and Desulfovibrio alaskensis 16109 investigated at the same conditions. At the most corroded region, nearly 80% of the beads lost 1% of their initial weight (fast-corrosion), resulting in an average corrosion rate of 0.2 mm/yr for Methanobacterium IM1-treated columns. When sand was used as filler material to mimic sediment conditions, average corrosion rates for Methanobacterium IM1 increased to 0.3 mm/yr (maximum 0.52 mm/yr) with over 83% of the beads having corrosion rates above 0.3 mm/yr. Scanning electron images of metal coupons extracted from the column showed methanogenic cells were clustered close to the metal surface. Methanobacterium IM1 is a hydrogenotrophic methanogen with higher affinity to metal than H2. Unlike SRB, Methanobacterium IM1 is not restricted to the availability of sulfate concentration in the environment. Thus, the use of the multiport flow column provided a new insight on the corrosion potential of methanogens, particularly in dynamic conditions, that offers new opportunities for monitoring and development of mitigation strategies. Overall, this study shows (1) under certain conditions methanogenic archaea can cause higher corrosion than SRB, (2) specific quantifications, i.e., maximum, average, and minimum corrosion rates can be determined, and (3) that spatial statistical evaluations of MIC can be carried out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In situ photoelastic-modulated Fourier transform infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy has been applied for the investigation of interfacial stability of organothiol and organosilane monolayer films on nanocrystalline zinc oxide thin films. It has been shown that for octadecyltriethoxysilane films, exposure to high water activities results in physisorption of water in the cross-linked film. This high water activity at the interface leads to a reversible wet de-adhesion of the interfacial silanol groups from the ZnO surface. However, the organothiol seems to form a denser monolayer and a stable by S-Zn bond that is resistant to the competition with adsorbed water. The reversible attachment for cross-linked organosilanol films has been demonstrated for the first time by means of an in situ spectroscopic method on model ZnO surfaces. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interfacial processes during the initial stages of SiOx-like plasma-polymer barrier coating deposition were investigated by means of polarization modulation infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy, and the resulting effect on defect densities were studied by cyclic voltammetry. Octadecanethiol self-assembled monolayers on Au-film coated wafers served as sensor layers to investigate interface chemistry during the plasma deposition. Both the spectroscopic and electrochemical data revealed that a thin SiOCH interlayer could reduce oxidative degradation of the SAM during subsequent deposition of the SiOx barrier film from an oxygen-rich plasma phase. The present electrochemical investigation confirmed effective inhibition of interfacial oxidative degradation processes of an aliphatic polymer in the presence of a SiOCH interfacial layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stability and dissolution of MgO(1 0 0) single crystal surfaces in alkaline solutions of NaClO4 and NaCl were investigated by means of in situ atomic force microscopy (AFM) and ex situ angle resolved X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (AR-XPS). MgO surfaces showed higher resistance to dissolution in NaClO4 electrolyte due to the formation of a gel-like hydroxide layer. The emergence of rectangular/square formed pits oriented in the 〈1 1 0〉 directions during immersion in NaCl electrolytes at alkaline pH was observed. The results are discussed on the basis of a substitution of hydroxides by chlorides at the electrolyte/MgO interface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: ZnO nanorod films were synthesised on polished zinc sheets by a hydrothermal method. Non-equilibrium oxygen and hydrogen plasma treatments were applied on these nanorod films to study the induced changes in their semiconducting properties. Donor densities were evaluated by means of Mott–Schottky analysis based on the electrochemical impedance data. In comparison to the as-grown films, hydrogen plasma led to an increase while oxygen plasma led to a decrease of the donor density. The corresponding current density potential curves measured in aqueous electrolytes showed an inhibition of anodic current densities in case of the reductive plasma and an inhibition of cathodic current densities in case of the oxidative plasma. Thereby, corrosion protection properties of ZnO nanorod films can be adapted to the respective application of the coated material. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

It is a known fact that individuals who engaged in delinquent behavior in childhood are more probable to carry on similar behavior in adulthood. If the factors that lead children to involve in delinquency are defined, the risk of dragging children into crime can be detected before they are involved in crime and delinquency can be prevented with appropriate preventive rehabilitation programs, in the early period. However, given that delinquent behavior occurs under the influence of multiple conditions and factors rather than a single risk factor; the need for diagnostic tools to evaluate multiple factors together is obvious. Artificial intelligence-based clinical decision support systems have already been used in the field of psychiatry as well as many other fields of medicine. In this study, we assume that thanks to artificial intelligence-based clinical decision support systems, children and adolescents at risk can be detected before the criminal behavior occurs by addressing certain factors. In this way, we anticipate that it can provide psychiatrists and other experts in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Androgenic neurosteroids have been shown to have involvement in the etiopathogenesis of many psychiatric disorders. To be able to tell if changes seen in adults could also be shown in the pediatric age group is substantially important in elucidating the etiology. However, we did not come across any study that inspected neurosteroid levels in pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) patients. Consequently, in this study, we planned to study the levels of cortisol, testosterone and DHEA-S in pediatric OCD patients. Methods: In this study, children between 7 and 16 years of age, 39 of whom were OCD patients and 37 healthy, have been included, with both groups having a similar distribution of age and sex. Total serum testosterone, cortisol and DHEA-S levels were measured using the ELISA method, and the relationship with the clinical data was investigated. Results: No statistically significant difference could be established between the patients and the control group in testosterone, DHEA-S or cortisol levels. (p=0,175, p=0,642, p=0,842 respectively). Conclusion: This first study found out that levels of cortisol, testosterone and DHEA-S in the pediatric patients were no different than they were in the control group. However, considering that the levels of these neurosteroids have been shown to be different in the adult patients before, it is likely that the change in neurosteroid levels is a finding emerging in the course of the anxiety disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Liver transplantation offers a quality life chance for children and adolescents who have a serious liver disease. Chronic illness, invasive interferences, hospitalization of the transplantation and stay in the intensive care unit, medication compliance and side effects, and complications after transplantation cause a significant degree of mental stress and may lead to a deterioration of mental health. This study aimed to evaluate the psychological difficulties of children after liver transplantation. Methods: This randomized controlled trial included 48 liver transplant patients between 4-18 years of age who had received liver transplants in the İnonu University Turgut Ozal Medical Center transplant unit, 37 patients with chronic liver disease and 50 healthy children and adolescents. Families of children and adolescents participating in this study filled the sociodemographic data form and parents form of Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Literate children age seven years and older and adolescents answered The Child Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptom Scale (CPSS); those 11 years and over answered SDQ self-report form. Results: There was no difference between the three groups in terms of age and gender (p<0.05). Comparing CPSS scores of the groups, there was no significant difference between chronic liver disease and transplant patients groups; it was determined that chronic liver disease and transplant patient groups scored significantly higher than the healthy group (p<0.05). Significant differences were not detected in terms of GGA-total and subscale scores between the three groups. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that the mental state of children with chronic liver disease and liver transplant is similar to healthy controls. However, the presence of symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder in children in the two groups suggested that they are at risk in this regard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common psychiatric illness. Although the aetiology of OCD is still unknown, the family-genetic data show that familial forms of OCD may be associated with a specific genetic susceptibility. Recent investigations have associated development of OCD with infectious illness. Toxoplasmic encephalitis (TE) is a common presentation of Toxoplasma gondii infection of the central nervous system (CNS). The most commonly affected CNS region in TE is the cerebral hemisphere, followed by the basal ganglia, cerebellum and brain stem. The basal ganglia has been implicated in the development of OCD. Therefore, in this study, it was aimed to investigate a possible association between Toxoplasma infection and OCD. We selected 42 patients with OCD and 100 healthy volunteers, and investigated the sero-positivity rate for anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). The sero-positivity rate for anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies among OCD patients (47.62%) was found to be significantly higher than the rate in healthy volunteers (19%). This is the first report to examine a potential association between Toxoplasma infection and OCD. The main finding of the present study is an increased level of IgG antibodies to T. gondii in OCD patients when compared with the level in healthy controls. There might be a causal relationship between chronic toxoplasmosis and the aetiology of OCD. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

High resolution analysis of corrosion processes on stainless steels is a challenging task. The application of local electrochemical techniques such as scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) has opened new possibilities for the detection of corrosion products and activity on metallic surfaces. However, due to its stochastic nature, the analysis of pitting corrosion requires being at the right place at the right time. Scanning over large areas at a high resolution not only leads to long scan durations but also leaves many short-lived processes undetected. In this paper we present the combined automated operation of SECM and wire multi-electrodes connected to a multi-electrode analyzer (MMA). The inter-electrode currents between 25 wire electrodes connected via zero resistance ammeters (ZRA) are measured by the MMA at open circuit potential (OCP) and the electrodes reporting anodic currents are detected automatically to be analyzed by means of SECM. The results demonstrate the successful application of this methodology for the detection of unstable and stable pitting processes on 304 stainless steel in a corrosive aqueous environment. Unlabelled Image • Detection of pitting corrosion by means of monitoring inter-electrode current flow • Automated detection of active electrodes for SECM imaging • Visualisation of iron dissolution during spontaneous pitting processes • Development of a tool for high-throughput and high-resolution corrosion analysis [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The effect of gender in development and chronicity of stuttering is well known. It is more common and chronic in males. In this study, it is aimed to investigate the relation between developmental stuttering and the serum level of testosterone, which is one of the androgens. Methods: In this study, 25 developmental stuttering patients aged 7 to 12 were included as patient group and 25 healthy children with the same demographic properties were included as control group. The testosterone levels of the two groups were determined in ng/ml by ELISA method. The difference between the means of the two group was analyzed by Pearson correlation test. Results: The medians of the testosterone levels of the patient and control group were determined as 20 ng/mL (min-max=12.00-184.00) and 5 ng/mL (min-max=2.00-30.00), respectively. Testosterone level of the patient group was significantly higher than the control group (p=0.001). Besides this, there was a significant correlation between the severity of the stuttering and the testosterone levels in the patient group (p=0.0001). Conclusion: The findings of the study show that testosterone may have an effect on the severity of developmental stutter and the clinical differences between the genders. However, further investigations are needed for a conclusion that testosterone may have a role in the etiology of developmental stutter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The neurobiological basis of tic disorders is thought to be a series of interactions including genetic, environmental and gender-related factors. Male gender is thought to be an especially important risk factor in the pathogenesis of the tics. Our aim in this study was to investigate the gender-related hormones of testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) and cortisol gender hormones in tic patients. Methods: A total of 26 patients aged 7-12 years who had not entered puberty and were diagnosed with chronic motor or vocal tic disorder (CMVTD) or Tourette syndrome (TS) and 22 healthy children of similar age and gender were included in the study. Serum total testosterone, cortisol and DHEA-S levels were measured with the ELISA method and the relationship with clinical data was investigated. Results: The testosterone and DHEA-S level of the patient group was higher than that of the control group (p=0.019, p=0.025) but no statistically significant difference was found between the cortisol levels (p=0.642). No statistically significant correlation was found between DHEA-S and testosterone levels and the total tic severity, general disturbance and movement tic subscale scores (p=0.954, p=0.669, p=0.909 respectively for testosterone; p=0.77, p=0.45, p=0.819 respectively for DHEA-S). Conclusion: The results of this study reveal an elevation of testosterone and DHEA-S in CMVTD and TS patients. Future studies with a larger number of patients can help elucidate the importance of these androgens in tic disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • CrCoNi was superior to CrMnFeCoNi in terms of corrosion properties. • XPS 3p core level peak analysis was applied for passive film investigations. • The thickness of the passive layer determined by XPS and EIS was < 4 nm. • AFM and SKPFM analysis revealed different corrosion modes for CrCoNi and CrMnFeCoNi. • Grain boundary corrosion on CrCoNi and pitting corrosion on CrMnFeCoNi was evident. This work presents the determination of the corrosion characteristics of CrCoNi (medium entropy alloy) and CrMnFeCoNi (high entropy alloy) in 0.1 M NaCl and 0.1 M H 2 SO 4. The morphology and chemical composition of the oxide layers formed on CrCoNi and CrMnFeCoNi were comparatively analyzed by scanning Kelvin probe microscopy (SKPFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and supported with chemical analysis by means of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The analysis of the 3p core level peaks showed that the oxide layer (native and after anodic passivation) on CrCoNi consisted mainly of Cr oxides, while the oxide layer on CrMnFeCoNi was primarily composed of a mixture of Cr and Fe oxides. In addition, XPS was utilized to assess the oxide layer thicknesses. These results were compared to the thicknesses obtained by means of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), with both approaches yielding values up to about 4 nm depending on the electrolyte and the alloy. Cyclic polarization measurements indicated superior corrosion resistance of CrCoNi in both aqueous environments compared to CrMnFeCoNi, as well as to AISI 304 stainless steel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Application of electrochemical XANES to microbially influenced corrosion (MIC). • In situ electrochemical XANES allows the analysis of the biofilm-metal interface. • Shewanella spp. grown in abundance of Fe(III) show higher electrochemical activity. • Cultivation conditions can play an important role in MIC processes. This paper reports results from in situ electrochemical X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES) studies of the corrosion processes on model thin iron films in the presence of iron reducing bacteria Shewanella putrefaciens. Here we investigate the electrochemical activity of two cultures grown in the presence and absence of Fe(III) citrate in the culture medium. The XANES spectra and the OCP data of the Fe sample incubated with the culture grown in absence of Fe(III) did not show any significant changes during twenty hours of monitoring. In the case of the culture grown in Fe(III) containing medium, an accelerated dissolution of the iron film was observed together with the formation of a mixed Fe(II)-Fe(III) hydroxide surface layer. The open circuit potential (OCP) steadily approached the free corrosion potential of iron in neutral chloride containing electrolytes, indicating a continuous dissolution process without passivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]