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Background: Acne vulgaris (AV) is an inflammatory skin disease caused by the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1). forkhead box protein (Fox) O1 is known to regulate the relationship between the mTORC1 signaling pathway and insulin resistance (IR). Increased mTORC1 signaling is known to predispose one to diseases such as insulin resistance (IR), obesity, and diabetes mellitus. One of the major components of mTORC1 is mTOR. FoxO1 and mTOR play key roles in the onset and progression of metabolic syndrome (MetS). In this study, we aimed to elucidate the relationship between AV and MetS through FoxO1 and mTOR signaling pathways and microRNAs (miRs) associated with these signaling pathways., Methods: We examined 20 AV patients without MetS, 16 AV patients with MetS, and 20 healthy controls. The demographic characteristics of the patients, MetS parameters, clinical severity of AV (Global Acne Grading System, GAGS), and the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) values were compared between the groups. In addition, the expression levels of FoxO1 and mTOR genes, along with the expression levels of miR-21, miR-29b, and miR-98, were assessed in skin biopsy samples from all groups using real-time polymerase chain reaction methods. FoxO1, mTOR, and miRNA expression levels were recorded as fold change., Results: The mean age of patients with AV without MetS was statistically lower. In AV patients with MetS, those with moderate GAGS scores had statistically significantly higher HOMA values than those with mild GAGS scores. FoxO1 expression was significantly lower in AV patients compared to controls. The mTOR expression levels of AV patients with MetS were significantly higher than the other two groups. The expression levels of miR-21 and miR-29b were significantly increased in the group of AV patients with MetS compared to the group of AV patients without MetS., Conclusions: These results suggested that the mTOR pathway may play an important role in explaining the relationship between AV and MetS in acne pathogenesis. They also suggested that miR-21 and miR-29b play a role in the inflammatory process of AV., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2024, Akdağ et al.)

Solar energy solutions that do not require additional space are critical. Noise barriers, which are built in low-value lands next to noise sources, provide effective areas for PV modules. There are many studies on using noise barriers as a sub-structure for photovoltaic systems, providing electricity generation besides noise reduction targets. Photovoltaic noise barrier (PVNB) technology combines noise control measures with renewable energy generation. In this study, it is aimed to develop an integrated design method that embeds solar energy technology in noise protection structures. The method is exemplified in an existing settlement located on the side of the road with heavy traffic. According to local climate and solar data, optimum tilt angles have been determined for annual, semi-annual, seasonal, and monthly periods. Noise barrier alternatives are derived with combinations of different diffraction edge sizes of barrier top and determined optimum inclination angles. The performance of the criteria that affect the PVNB effectiveness for alternatives was calculated through software tools. The energy generation potential of PVNB and its shading in adjacent blocks were calculated with PVsyst 6.7.7. The noise control efficiency of the structure was computed via SoundPLAN 7.2. TOPSIS method, one of the most common multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) techniques, was used in the evaluation. As a result of TOPSIS, the best PVNB solution in the case study is the alternative that has 3-m and 2-m-wide edges and 58° and 31° tilted edges. In comparison with the current situation, the selected alternative will decrease 44% of the number of receiving points affected by noise and provide 524,804 kWh annual electricity generation., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Not only the appeal of the sun, natural, and historical beauties but also architectural features and business advantages of the accommodation facilities emerge as important factors in tourism development. Holiday villages differ from other types of accommodation facilities in terms of their functions and services. It is important to provide tourists acceptable levels of comfort in holiday villages offering various functions. One of these comfort conditions is acoustic comfort, which involves noise control. Noise emitted from various indoor and outdoor facilities is the main component impacting acoustic comfort in holiday villages. In this study, a holiday village in Antalya, Turkey with an open area of 120,000 m 2 was examined to identify noise exposure conditions of outdoor areas. Pools, restaurants, animation areas, playgrounds, and courts are the main outdoor noise sources in this holiday village. The noise emitted by these sources during daytime (Ld) and evening time (Le) are shown in noise maps. The open areas affected by 65 L Aeq noise level extend to an area of 55,500 and 21,000 m 2 during Ld and Le, respectively. With the noise barriers around the main noise sources, impacted open areas are reduced by 13% in Ld and 12% in Le. The results of this study clearly reveals the importance of resolving the issue of environmental noise in the most efficient and cost-effective way in terms of settlement and planning, especially in areas with dominant noise sources like holiday villages.

Background: Infections with human rhinoviruses (RVs) are responsible for millions of common cold episodes and the majority of asthma exacerbations, especially in childhood. No drugs specifically targeting RVs are available., Objective: We sought to identify specific anti-RV molecules based on DNAzyme technology as candidates to a clinical study., Methods: A total of 226 candidate DNAzymes were designed against 2 regions of RV RNA genome identified to be sufficiently highly conserved between virus strains (ie, the 5'-untranslated region and cis-acting replication element) by using 3 test strains: RVA1, RVA16, and RVA29. All DNAzymes were screened for their cleavage efficiency against in vitro-expressed viral RNA. Those showing any catalytic activity were subjected to bioinformatic analysis of their reverse complementarity to 322 published RV genomic sequences. Further molecular optimization was conducted for the most promising candidates. Cytotoxic and off-target effects were excluded in HEK293 cell-based systems. Antiviral efficiency was analyzed in infected human bronchial BEAS-2B cells and ex vivo-cultured human sinonasal tissue., Results: Screening phase-generated DNAzymes characterized by either good catalytic activity or by high RV strain coverage but no single molecule represented a satisfactory combination of those 2 features. Modifications in length of the binding domains of 2 lead candidates, Dua-01(-L12R9) and Dua-02(-L10R11), improved their cleavage efficiency to an excellent level, with no loss in eminent strain coverage (about 98%). Both DNAzymes showed highly favorable cytotoxic/off-target profiles. Subsequent testing of Dua-01-L12R9 in BEAS-2B cells and sinonasal tissue demonstrated its significant antiviral efficiency., Conclusions: Effective and specific management of RV infections with Dua-01-L12R9 might be useful in preventing asthma exacerbations, which should be verified by clinical trials., (Copyright © 2018 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)