Landfill is the most common method used to eliminate municipal solid waste in developing countries. As in all developing residential units, Sivas city is also encountering a major solid waste problem ...menacing both public health and environment. This study analyzes the 7 criteria (geological structure, land ability class, transportation, groundwater, surface water, residential areas, and existing land use) utilized for solid waste landfill area preference reasons by employing some Geographical Information System (GIS) based, multi-criteria decision-making methods such as Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Simple Additive Weighting (SAW). Evaluation of alternative areas defined by AHP and SAW methods is conducted with the help of Combinative Distance-Based Assessment (CODAS). The study area was classified as “most suitable”, “suitable”, “averagely suitable”, “too little suitable” and “not suitable” in terms of their sanitary landfill properties. According to AHP and SAW analyses results, it was determined that a large part of the study area (respectively, 46.82% and 27.81%) is within the category of “averagely suitable”. After the application based on GIS oriented multi-criteria decision-making analysis, 4 alternative places as solid waste disposal areas were recommended by taking environmental and physical factors into consideration. AHP–CODAS and SAW–CODAS methods were mutually utilized to rank these 4 areas according to their suitability. As a result, “Area1” in integrated weights (AHP and SAW)–CODAS was selected as the most appropriate place for sanitary permanent landfill.
Listeria monocytogenes
is one of the most important foodborne pathogens and is a causal agent of listeriosis in humans and animals. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, serogroups, ...antibiotic susceptibility, virulence factor genes, and genetic relatedness of
L. monocytogenes
strains isolated from 500 poultry samples in Turkey. The isolation sources of 103
L. monocytogenes
strains were retail markets (
n
= 100) and slaughterhouses (
n
= 3).
L. monocytogenes
strains were identified as serogroups 1/2a-3a (75.7%, lineage I), 1/2c-3c (14.56%, lineage I), 1/2b-3b-7 (5.82%, lineage II), 4a-4c (2.91%, lineage III), and 4b-4d-4e (0.97%, lineage III). Most of the
L. monocytogenes
strains (93.2%) were susceptible to the antibiotics tested. PCR analysis indicated that the majority of the strains (95% to 100%) contained most of the virulence genes (
hylA
,
plcA
,
plcB
,
prfA
,
mpl
,
actA
,
dltA
,
fri
,
flaA inlA
,
inlC
, and
inlJ
). Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) demonstrated that there were 18 pulsotypes grouped at a similarity of > 90% among the strains. These results indicate that it is necessary to prevent the presence of
L. monocytogenes
in the poultry-processing environments to help prevent outbreaks of listeriosis and protect public health.
Benzalkonium chloride (BAC) is a common ingredient of disinfectants used for industrial, medical, food safety and domestic applications. It is a common pollutant detected in surface and wastewaters ...to induce adverse effects on Human health as well as aquatic and terrestrial life forms. Since disinfectant use is essential in combatting against microorganisms, the best approach to reduce ecotoxicity level is to restrict BAC use. We report here that encapsulation of BAC in mesoporous silica nanoparticles can provide an efficient strategy for inhibition of microbial activity with lower than usual concentrations of disinfectants. As a proof-of-concept, Listeria monocytogenes was evaluated for minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of nanomaterial encapsulated BAC. Aptamer molecular gate structures provided a specific targeting of the disinfectant to Listeria cells, leading to high BAC concentrations around bacterial cells, but significantly reduced amounts in total. This strategy allowed to inhibition of BAC resistant Listeria strains with 8 times less the usual disinfectant dose. BAC encapsulated and aptamer functionalized silica nanoparticles (AptBACNP) effectively killed only target bacteria L. monocytogenes, but not the non-target cells, Staphylococcus aureus or Escherichia coli. AptBACNP was not cytotoxic to Human cells as determined by in vitro viability assays.
Display omitted
•Targeted benzalkonium chloride reduces MIC values for resistant Listeria strains.•Mesoporous silica and aptamers gates can be used for efficient targeted disinfection.•Targeted benzalkonium chloride is not cytotoxic when delivered in silica nanoparticles.
Biofilm formation is one of the defense mechanisms of bacteria against disinfectants and antimicrobials. The aim of this study was to determine biofilm-forming L.monocytogenes from fish processing ...and salmon surfaces. Biofilm formation at 15, 25, 37, and 40 °C from 1 to 6-days period, adhesion to glass, polypropylene and stainless-steel surfaces, bacterial surface charge and hydrophobicity was determined. Adhesion behavior of the strains was evaluated using Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) technique. Totally 32 L.monocytogenes strains belonging to serogroups IIa (n:17), IIc(n:14) and IVb(n:1) were detected from 1320 swabs and 16 smoked salmons. Biofilm formation tests revealed that 21 strains form biofilm on microplate by increasing time and temperature. Although all strains strongly formed biofilm on glass surfaces, two strains slightly adhered polypropylene surfaces. High surface roughness of stainless-steel FeCrNi alloy (Ra = 4.15 nm) and CoCrMo alloy (Ra = 10.75 nm) increased biofilm formation of L.monocytogenes on stainless-steel surfaces. Zeta potential results showed that non-biofilm formers were more negatively charged after 6-days and hydrophobicity couldn't give a distinct distribution among biofilm formers and non-formers. SPR analysis method was evaluated to distinguish biofilm formers to adhere SPR gold chip surfaces. PCR results revealed that all strains were positive for hylA, iap, actA, plcA, plcB, fri, flaA, inlA, inlB, inlC, inlJ, and lmo1386 genes. Additionally, all strains were susceptible to penicillin, ampicillin, meropenem, erythromycin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Biofilm-forming, virulence properties of L.monocytogenes strains isolated from fish processing surfaces and smoked salmons were evaluated and SPR was used to differentiate biofilm formers as a sensitive technique for biofilm studies.
•Temperature is an important factor in biofilm formation of Listeria.•Biofilm formation of L.monocytogenes increased by increasing temperature and time.•Surface roughness increased biofilm formation of L.monocytogenes to stainless-steel.•SPR analysis can be a useful tool to differentiate biofilm formers.
Carbon and nitrogen isotopic ratios (
δ
15N and
δ
13C) of suspended particulate organic matter (SPOM) in the water column of the Black Sea were measured at a total of nine stations in ...September–October (autumn) 1999 and May 2001. For comparison, a station in the Mediterranean Sea and one in the Sea of Marmara were sampled in October 1999. Large-sized particle samples, as well as samples of surface sediment were also collected for N and C isotopic analysis.
The results revealed important vertical and regional variations in N and C isotopic composition. Seasonal variations in SPOM
δ
15N and
δ
13C were not apparent. SPOM in the euphotic zone (EZ), oxycline, and suboxic/anoxic interface layers of the water column was characterized by distinct isotopic composition. In the EZ, the N and C isotopic ratios of SPOM were in the range typically observed for plankton-derived SPOM in the surface ocean (EZ means ranged from 2.7‰ to 5.9‰ for
δ
15N and from −24.0‰ to −21.5‰ for
δ
13C). Shelf region SPOM had higher
δ
15N and lower
δ
13C (EZ means of 5.9‰ and −24.0‰, respectively). Large-sized particles (LPOM) collected by zooplankton net tows had ∼3‰ higher
δ
15N values compared to SPOM, indicating fractionation during trophic transfer of nitrogen. SPOM in the oxycline increased by 3–6‰ for
δ
15N, while
δ
13C decreased by −2‰ to −4‰, which may be attributed to greater lipid content. In the suboxic/anoxic interface zone, SPOM isotopic ratios (
δ
15N as low as 0.0‰ to −8.0‰) suggest chemoautotrophic production leading to dominance of new, in situ produced organic matter. The location of the most negative
δ
15N values indicates that chemoautotrophic production is most intense at the shelf-break regions, possibly enhanced by mixing of oxygenated and nitrate-rich Mediterranean inflow waters with suboxic/anoxic Black Sea water.
COVID-19 has affected humanity not only physically but also mentally. It was expected to have impact on high-risk groups such as the immunocompromised patients and parents/caregivers of them. Our ...study was aimed to investigate the COVID-19 related anxiety, post-traumatic stress levels, and sleep-related parameters of the parents of children with primary immunodeficiency.
Parents of children with primary immunodeficiency and age and gender-matched control group completed questionnaires.
Anxiety and post-traumatic stress levels of the study group were found to be significantly higher than the control group. Furthermore, sleep time of the study group was significantly lower than the control group. The subjective sleep quality of the study group was also lower in the study group, but the difference did not reach a significant level.
In the ongoing and other possible pandemic processes, professional support for the parents of these children is of great importance.
The authors report the case of a 4-year-old boy who presented with unilateral ptosis and a mass lesion of palpebral conjunctiva of the left upper eyelid, that had been present for 2 weeks, and had ...rapidly enlarged. The lesion was salmon colored and was easily distinguished from the conjunctiva. There was no obvious orbital extension in the MRI studies. Excisional biopsy was performed through a conjunctival approach. The histopathology was consistent with embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma. Thoracoabdominal CT scans revealed nodules in both lungs, indicating stage 4 disease. The patient received chemotheraphy and intensity-modulated radiation therapy. Rhabdomyosarcoma confined to the conjunctiva and distant metastasis without orbital involvement is rare. It should be included in the differential diagnosis of any atypical conjunctival mass lesions in children, and histopathology is necessary to establish proper treatment. As the case indicates, detailed systemic evaluation and careful systemic follow up of these patients are mandatory.
The multilayered surface waters of the Black Sea contain aerobic, suboxic and anoxic layers that support both photoautotrophic (PP) and chemoautotrophic (ChP) biological production. During the R/V
...Knorr cruise in May–June 2001, phytoplankton biomass (represented as chlorophyll-
a), photoautotrophic and chemoautotrophic production (ChP) rates were determined in the western Black Sea. Integrated chlorophyll-
a concentrations in the euphotic zone were as low as 2.2
mg
m
−2 in the central gyre, while they were as high as 19.9
mg
m
−2 in the NW shelf region. Integrated photoautotrophic production rates ranged from 112 to 355
mg
C
m
−2
d
−1. The lowest values were determined in the central gyre and the highest values were found at the shelf-break station near the Bosphorus, the NW shelf/shelf-break area and in the Sevastopol eddy. Primary production and chlorophyll-
a data revealed that post-bloom conditions existed during this sampling period. Bioassay experiments showed that under optimum light conditions, photoautotrophic production was nitrogen-limited. ChP increased in the redox transition zone and coincided with the lower boundary of the fine particle layer. The maximum values were shallower (at
σ
θ
=
16.25
) in the central gyre and deeper (at
σ
θ
=
16.5
) in the shelf-break region near Sakarya Canyon. Integrated ChP rates were 63 and 1930
mg
C
m
−2
d
−1, which were equivalent to 30% and 89% of the overall water-column production for the central gyre and Sakarya Canyon regions, respectively.
The chemical composition of suspended particulate organic matter (SPOM) in the Black Sea water column has been characterized by pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS). The results ...are discussed in terms of the hydro-chemical properties of the water column. Phytoplankton cultures grown in the lab also were analyzed to provide reference information for the euphotic zone SPOM. The composition of SPOM in the Black Sea displays important vertical variations dependent on specific distinct biochemical processes in the water column. Identical pyrolysis markers indicative for proteins, lipids, carbohydrates and chlorophylls were obtained from SPOM in the euphotic zone of the Black Sea and the phytoplankton cultures. Nevertheless, the relative contribution of lipids and carbohydrates to Black Sea SPOM was higher than in phytoplankton cultures. The lipid to protein ratio throughout the water column seems to determine the C/N ratio of SPOM. Below the oxycline, the relative contribution of proteins to the SPOM pool increased while the lipid content of the SPOM decreased. The protein composition changed substantially in the suboxic/anoxic transition zone, as expressed by the increase in pyrrole/indole ratio. Elemental sulfur was observed in particulates suspended at the upper anoxic zone, and the relative intensity of the S
8 peak varied regionally with more intense multi-peaks in SW shelf-break station, in agreement with the lateral flux of O
2. Sulfur-containing organic compounds (e.g. thiophenes), including organic polysulphides (e.g. 1,2-dithiole-3-thiones) were detected in some deep anoxic samples, indicating that sulphurization of organic matter may be active in the water column.
The major form of glycohemoglobin is hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). The HbA1c fraction is abnormally elevated in chronic hyperglycemic diabetic patients and correlates positively with glycemic control. ...Previous studies suggest that iron deficiency anemia (IDA) affects the levels of HbA1c. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of IDA on HbA1c levels in nondiabetic patients. The population studied consisted of 50 patients (30 women, 20 men, mean age 35.7 +/- 11.9 years) with IDA and 50 healthy subjects that were matched for age and sex. Patients who had glucose tolerance abnormalities (impaired glucose tolerance or diabetes mellitus), hemoglobinopathies, hemolytic anemia, chronic alcohol ingestion and chronic renal failure were excluded from the study. Hematologic investigations, fasting and postprandial glucose and HbA1c levels were measured in all subjects before iron therapy. All patients with IDA were treated with iron 100 mg/day for 3 months. We repeated the laboratory investigation after iron therapy. Before iron treatment, the mean HbA1c (7.4 +/- 0.8%) level in patients with IDA was higher than in a healthy group (5.9% +/- 0.5) (p < 0.001). In patients with IDA, HbA1c decreased significantly after iron treatment from a mean of 7.4% +/- 0.8 to 6.2% +/- 0.6 (p < 0.001). Iron deficiency must be corrected before any diagnostic or therapeutic decision is made based on HbA1c.
PDF
