The use of mobile phones is becoming widespread with the development of technology, and as a result, its effects on human health are becoming more and more important every day. Studies have reported ...that the electromagnetic field (EMF) emitted by mobile phones may have adverse effects on the biological systems. In order to evaluate the effect of zinc (Zn) on C3H cancer fibroblast cells exposed to 2100 MHz EMF, we analyzed cell viability%, nuclear factor kappa b (NF-κB) and DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) activities. Cells were divided to following groups: Control, sham control, 2100 MHz EMF, 50 µM Zn + 2100 MHz EMF, 100 µM Zn + 2100 MHz EMF, and 200 µM Zn + 2100 MHz EMF for 2 h. We measurement cell viability, NF-κB and DNMT activities. There was increased cell viability % in the 2100 MHz EMF group compared to the control group, while the cell viability % was decreased in the 50, 100 and 200 µM Zn + 2100 MHz EMF groups compared to 2100 MHz EMF. NF-κB and DNMT activities were a significant increase in the 2100 MHz EMF group compared to the control group, although were statistically decreased in the 50, 100 and 200 µM Zn + 2100 MHz EMF groups compared to the 2100 MHz EMF group. Our results demonstrate that 2100 MHz EMF exposure in cancer fibroblast cells induce NF-κB and DNMT activities, whereas zinc supplementation reduce NF-κB and DNMT activities-induced 2100 MHz EMF.
•The performance of drought indices varies based on climate and land-use variabilities.•SPI yields better consistency with SSMI over relatively cooler regions.•SPEI yields better consistency with ...SSMI over relatively warmer regions.•Using dual drought indices improves the accuracy of drought monitoring systems.•KNN is a suitable method to determine the best representative of SSMI.
In this study, the consistency of a set of meteorological and soil moisture drought indices has been analyzed using the linear relationship between them. Commonly used Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) are compared to soil moisture drought index (SSMI) between the years 1981 and 2019. The most consistent meteorological drought index with SSMI has been selected as the best representative of it for 175,840 pixels, globally. Later, different classification methods (i.e., Decision Tree, K-Nearest Neighbors, Naïve Bayesian, Support Vector Machine, and Random Forest) are trained to identify the best representative of SSMI by considering the most consistent meteorological drought index with SSMI as target, and five ancillary datasets of average precipitation, average temperature, vegetation cover (Normalized difference vegetation index; NDVI), climate class, and land cover class as input variables of them, respectively. Results show that over 48% of pixels SPI, and over 32% of pixels SPEI show significantly better consistency with SSMI (at p-value: 0.05). Overall, in regions with cooler temperatures and low and high vegetation cover densities, the SPI, and over warmer areas with mid-range of vegetation density, the SPEI provides a better correlation with SSMI. The performance of different classification methods over validation pixels showed that the K-Nearest Neighbor method can identify the best correlated meteorological drought index with SSMI better than other methods. Overall results highlight the impact of climate and land use on interactions of meteorological and soil moisture drought indices, particularly that the classification efforts showed that, on average, monitoring of drought events by combine use of SPI and SPEI (each one over the area where it is identified as the best indicator of SSMI) improves the correlation between meteorological and soil moisture drought indices by 4 and 10%, compared to the uniform use of SPI and SPEI, respectively.
A unique and very interesting earthquake of magnitude Mw 7.2 occurred in the Van region of Turkey on October 23, 2011 that caused a heavy loss of human lives and properties. The earthquake occurred ...on a blind oblique thrust fault oriented towards the NE–SW direction and dipping towards NW as evidenced by focal mechanism solution and aftershock distribution. In this study, we analyzed the seismogenesis and earthquake triggering during this sequence with the help of estimated seismological parameters (b-value of frequency–magnitude relation, p-value of aftershocks temporal decay and D-value of fractal dimension), 2D mapping of b- and p-values, 3D mapping of b-value and coseismic Coulomb stress modeling. The estimated seismic b-value equal to 0.89 reveals that the mainshock occurred in a highly stressed region and sequence comprised larger magnitude aftershocks due to the presence of large size asperities within the rupture zone. The normal estimate of p-value (0.98) suggests a tectonic genesis of the aftershocks sequence. The estimated D-value equal to 1.80 reveals that rupture propagated in a two-dimensional plane filled up by fractures. The spatial 2D and 3D mapping of seismic b-value suggests that the Van earthquake originated in a highly heterogeneous fractured rock matrix with fluid intrusions into it at deeper depth beneath the mainshock hypocenter region. The estimated coseismic Coulomb stress using the variable slip model for depth range 0–30km exhibits a ‘butterfly’ pattern and most of the aftershocks fall (90%) in the region of enhanced Coulomb stress. This suggests that most of the aftershock activities have been triggered by transfer of positive Coulomb stress due to coseismic slip of the mainshock. The results estimated in the present study have potential useful implications in future seismic hazard assessment and risk mitigation in Van and the surrounding regions.
•We investigated 2D and 3D variations of b-value for the 2011 Van, Turkey earthquake.•We also investigated earthquake triggering using coseismic Coulomb stress modeling.•Highly heterogeneous fractured rock matrix with fluid intrusions within hypocenter•Most aftershocks (about 90%) were triggered as evidenced by Coulomb stress modeling.
In this study, color removal by absorption from synthetically prepared wastewater was investigated using montmorillonite clay by adsorption. As dyestuff Astrazon Red Violet 3RN (Basic Violet 16) was ...used. Experimental parameters selected were pH, temperature, agitation speed, initial dyestuff concentration, adsorbent dosage and ionic strength. It was established that adsorption rate increased with increasing pH, temperature, dye concentration and agitation speed, but decreased with increased ionic strength and adsorbent dosage. Adsorption equilibrium data obtained by a series of experiments carried out in a water bath were employed with common isotherm equations such as Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, Elovich and Dubinin-Radushkevich. It was found that the Langmuir equation appears to fit the equilibrium data better than the other models. Furthermore, the fit of the kinetic data to common kinetic models such as the pseudo-first-order, second-order, Elovich and intraparticle diffusion models was tested to elucidate the adsorption mechanism. Kinetic data conformed to the pseudo-second-order model, indicating chemisorptions. In addition, the thermodynamic parameters activation energy, Ea, enthalpy ΔH*, entropy, ΔS*, and free energy change, ΔG*, were calculated. The values of the calculated parameters indicated that physical adsorption of ARV on the clay was dominant and that the adsorption process was endothermic.
Background
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) may have a profound impact on quality of life. There is increasing interest in measuring quality of life in lupus patients. The purpose of this study was ...to investigate the validity and reliability of SLE Quality of Life Questionnaire (L-QoL) in Turkish SLE patients.
Methods
SLE according to 2012 Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics Classification Criteria were recruited into the study. Demographic data, clinical parameters and disease activity measured with the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index-2000 (SLEDAI-2K); were noted. Nottingham Health Profile and Health Assessment Questionnaire were filled out in addition to the Turkish L-QoL (LQoL-TR). Internal consistency, test–retest reliability, and convergent and discriminant validity were evaluated.
Results
The mean age of participants was 43.55 ± 14.33 years and the mean disease duration was 89.8 ± 92.1 months. The patients filled out LQoL-TR in 2.5 min. Strong correlation of LQoL-TR with all subgroups of the Nottingham Health Profile and the Health Assessment Questionnaire were established showing the convergent validity. The highest correlation was demonstrated with emotional reactions (rho = 0.72) and sleep component (rho = 0.65) of the Nottingham Health Profile scale (p < 0.0001). Its poor and not significant correlation with nonfunctional parameters (age, disease duration, perceived general health, SLEDAI-2K) showed its discriminative properties. LQoL-TR demonstrated good internal reliability with a Cronbach’s α of 0.93 and test–retest reliability with intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.87.
Conclusion
The LQoL-TR is a practical and useful tool which demonstrates good validity and reliability.
Most of the geothermal waters in Turkey contain extremely high concentration of boron when they are used for irrigation. The use of geothermal waters for irrigation can results in excess amount ...deposition of boron in soil. On the other hand, a minimal boron concentration is required for irrigational waters. In this study, electrocoagulation (EC) was selected as a treatment process for the removal of boron from thermal waters obtained from Ilıca-Erzurum in Turkey. Current density (CD), pH of solution and temperature of solution were selected as operational parameters. The results showed that boron removal efficiency increased from pH 4.0 to 8.0 and decreased at pH 10.0. Although boron removal efficiency was highest at pH 8.0, energy consumption was very high at this pH value compared to other pH intervals. Boron removal efficiency reached to 95% with increasing current density from 1.5 to 6.0
mA/cm
2, but energy consumption was also increased in this interval. At higher temperatures of solution, such as 313 and 333
K, boron removal efficiency increased. At optimum conditions, boron removal efficiency in geothermal water reached up to 95%.
The correct interpretation of ensemble information obtained from the parallel implementation of multiple land surface models (LSMs) requires information concerning the LSM ensemble's mutual error ...covariance. Here we propose a technique for obtaining such information using an instrumental variable (IV) regression approach and comparisons against a long‐term surface soil moisture data set acquired from satellite remote sensing. Application of the approach to multimodel ensemble soil moisture output from Phase 2 of the North American Land Data Assimilation System (NLDAS‐2) and European Space Agency (ESA) Soil Moisture (SM) Essential Climate Variable (ECV) data set allows for the calculation of optimal weighting coefficients for individual members of the NLDAS‐2 LSM ensemble and a biased‐minimized estimate of uncertainty in a deterministic soil moisture analysis derived via optimal averaging. As such, it provides key information required to accurately condition soil moisture expectations using information gleaned from a multimodel LSM ensemble. However, existing continuity and rescaling concerns surrounding the generation of long‐term, satellite‐based soil moisture products must likely be resolved before the proposed approach can be applied with full confidence.
Key Points:
Soil moisture can be predicted from a mulit‐model ensemble
Interpretation of the ensemble requires model error covariance information
Such information can be obtained using an instrumental variable approach
The World Health Organization (WHO) released a new tumour classification for the genitourinary system in early 2016 after consensus by pathologists with expertise in these organs. It utilized the ...framework of the 2004 classification, and incorporated the most up‐to‐date information concerning these tumours. In testicular tumours, the majority of the changes occurred in the nomenclature and classification of germ cell tumours; however, several modifications were also made for non‐germ cell tumours. Among sex cord–stromal tumours, sclerosing Sertoli cell tumour (SCT) is no longer recognized as a separate entity but as a morphological variant of SCT not otherwise specified (NOS), as CTNNB1 gene mutations have been noted in both neoplasms but not in the other forms of SCT. Similarly, the lipid cell variant is not separately classified, but is considered to be a morphological variant of SCT NOS. Large‐cell calcifying SCT is recognized as a distinct entity that occurs either sporadically or in association with Carney complex, with the latter patients having a distinct germline PRKAR1A gene mutation. Intratubular large‐cell hyalinizing Sertoli cell neoplasia is also accepted as a separate entity linked with Peutz–Jeghers syndrome. The subcategories of ‘mixed’ and ‘incompletely differentiated’ forms of sex cord/gonadal stromal tumours have been replaced by ‘mixed and unclassified sex cord–stromal tumours’. New entities introduced in the latest WHO revision include: myoid gonadal stromal tumour and ‘undifferentiated gonadal tissue’, a putative precursor lesion of gonadoblastoma, whereas juvenile xanthogranuloma and haemangioma are included in the miscellaneous category of tumours.
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