This paper investigated the development and characterization of conductive textured and non-textured polyester fabrics with various cross-sections. To impart conductivity on fabric structures, the ...electroless copper plating method was chosen. Electrical conductivity, thickness, electron scanning microscopy (SEM), microscopic morphology, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy were used to characterize the deposition of copper nanoparticles on textured and non-textured polyester fabrics (EDX). SEM images revealed a thin film of uniform copper nanoparticle coating on textured and non-textured polyester fabrics. Electrical conductivity, wear resistance, thickness, and durability of conductive textured polyester fabrics were compared to non-textured conductive polyester fabrics. Electrical conductivity measurements show that both textured and non-textured polyester fabrics have good electrical conductivity values of 27Ω/cm, 85Ω/cm, 52Ω/cm, 9Ω/cm, 98Ω/cm, 133Ω/cm. When conductive polyester fabrics were tested for durability against washing and rubbing fastness, the textured polyester fabrics retained copper nanoparticles well by maintaining their electrical conductivity level after 250 abrasion and washing cycles, with best electrical conductivity values of 177Ω/cm and 29Ω/cm, respectively.
Display omitted
•A new A2B2 type of asymmetrical phthalocyanine-based chemical probe (O-A2B2ZnPc) platform was constructed for Be2+ sensing.•The probe was decorated with the 9-crown-3-ether and ...dimethylamino-phenyl groups to increase sensitivity toward Be2+.•O-A2B2ZnPc is the first example of A2B2 type of unsymmetrical phthalocyanine for the ultra-sensitive detection of Be2+.•It shows superior sensing abilities to solve the crucial drawbacks to be encountered for Be2+ determining in literature.
The aim of this work is to construct a new A2B2-type of unsymmetrical and ratiometric phthalocyanine (Pc) based-probe O-A2B2ZnPc to provide an effective solution to critical inadequacy to be experienced for the detection of hazardous Be2+. O-A2B2ZnPc enabling strong absorption and emission in Near-Infrared region (λabs-λem wavelengths of 694–712 nm) showed excellent selectivity and sensitivity toward Be2+ among competitive metal ions by both spectrophotometric and fluorometric methods. The probe with oligomeric Pc form in THF was degraded with the addition of aqueous Be2+ and arranged to J-aggregation form, resulting in a remarkably diminishing in Q-band at 694 nm as well as a new band formation at 746 nm, and a considerably decreasing in fluorescence emission. The probe has superior features for the determination of Be2+ such as high quantum efficiency and photochemical stability, rapid response (1 s), high selectivity and very low Limit of Detection (0.26 ppb and 1.5 ppb) for UV–Vis and fluorescence, respectively which are quite good values according to the permissible amount of Be2+ (4 ppb) in water as specified by World Health Organization. O-A2B2ZnPc can be shown among the best performing probes with its unique properties according to previous studies in the literature. In addition, the geometrical and spectral features of the O-A2B2ZnPc were analyzed in detail by DFT calculations.
Presbycusis is bilateral sensorineural hearing loss associated with the progressive degeneration of cochlear and central auditory pathways with aging.
We aimed to reveal age-related changes in middle ...ear function by using wideband tympanometry (WBT).
Fifty-eight patients diagnosed with presbycusis were compared to 52 audiologically healthy participants. WBT measurement was performed on both ears via wideband click stimulus with a tympanometer device using probe tone frequencies of 226-8000 Hz.
There were no statistically significant differences detected among the resonance frequencies or maximum absorbance ratios measured in both ears between groups (p > .05). The mean absorbance of the right and left ears at 4000 and 8000 Hz was statistically higher in the patient group than in the healthy controls (r = 0.038, 0.030; l = 0.015, 0.012). Moreover, mean compliance values were found to be significantly lower in the patient group than in the control group (r = 0.030 and l = 0.040).
The significant differences detected in compliance and absorbance values for high frequencies in presbycusis patients were remarkable. Thus, it has been shown that WBT yields an advantage compared to traditional tympanometry in the diagnosis and treatment of middle ear diseases.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of isokinetic strengthening in paretic upper extremity among patients with post-stroke hemiplegia.
Hemiplegic patients with at least 6 months ...post-stroke and those with arm and hand Brunnstrom motor recovery stage ≥ 3 were included to the study. Patients were randomized into two groups. Isokinetic training group received 4 weeks (3 days/week) of isokinetic strengthening, while the control group was tailored strengthening exercises with exercise bands. Outcome measures were the isokinetic peak torque of wrist flexor and extensors, Fugl-Meyer Assessment of upper extremity, Stroke Impact Scale (SIS), Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire, hand grip strength, peak isometric strength of wrist flexor and extensors. Outcome measures were evaluated before treatment, after treatment (at the end of week 4) and 4 weeks after the end of treatment (at the end of week 8). The trial was registered at ClinicalTtrials.gov (ID: NCT03834311).
After 4 weeks, changes in extensor peak torque at 60°/sn (p=0.007) and extensor peak isometric muscle strength (p=0.007) were higher in the isokinetic group (n=12) than those in the control group (n=12). At the end of week 8, only DASH score revealed a significantly higher improvement in the isokinetic group than that in the control group (p=0.014).
Isokinetic strengthening may provide motor and functional improvement in paretic upper extremity among patients with post-stroke hemiplegia.
This study investigates the electrical and thermal characteristics of a cylindrical lithium-ion cell with an axisymmetric two-dimensional lumped model. The cell is completely discharged at 0.5, 1 and ...1.5 C rates under 0, 20 and 50 °C operating temperatures. Both the open circuit voltage values and the average specific heat value of the cell are measured and used as an input to the model. The model uses the variable internal resistance approach to evaluate the voltage variation of the cell that is obtained from experimental data. A cylindrical lithium-ion cell has a spiral construction that involves multiple layers. However, these layers are assumed as a uniform material in the lumped model. The lumped model in COMSOL Multiphysics couples the heat transfer and lumped battery interfaces so it allows predicting the surface temperature of the cell during discharging processes. The experimental results point out that the operating temperature inversely affects the internal resistance and the heat generation within the cell during a discharging process. Furthermore, it is found that the capacity of the cell significantly decreases at low operating temperatures. Finally, the predicted temperature profile follows the same trend with the experimental data and is consistent at each operating condition.
Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is a monogenic autoinflammatory disorder with recurrent fever, abdominal pain, serositis, articular manifestations, erysipelas-like erythema, and renal ...complications as its main features. Caused by the mutations in the MEditerranean FeVer (
MEFV
) gene, it mainly affects people of Mediterranean descent with a higher incidence in the Turkish, Jewish, Arabic, and Armenian populations. As our understanding of FMF improves, it becomes clearer that we are facing with a more complex picture of FMF with respect to its pathogenesis, penetrance, variant type (gain-of-function vs. loss-of-function), and inheritance. In this study,
MEFV
gene analysis results and clinical findings of 27,504 patients from 35 universities and institutions in Turkey and Northern Cyprus are combined in an effort to provide a better insight into the genotype-phenotype correlation and how a specific variant contributes to certain clinical findings in FMF patients. Our results may help better understand this complex disease and how the genotype may sometimes contribute to phenotype. Unlike many studies in the literature, our study investigated a broader symptomatic spectrum and the relationship between the genotype and phenotype data. In this sense, we aimed to guide all clinicians and academicians who work in this field to better establish a comprehensive data set for the patients. One of the biggest messages of our study is that lack of uniformity in some clinical and demographic data of participants may become an obstacle in approaching FMF patients and understanding this complex disease.
Calpainopathy is mainly characterized by symmetric and progressive weakness of proximal muscles. Several reports showed that the most common LGMD subtype is LGMDR1 or calpainopathy, which had ...previously been defined as LGMD2A. Until now, more than 500 likely pathogenic/pathogenic variants in the CAPN3 gene have been reported. However, a clear genotype–phenotype association had not yet been established and this causes major difficulties in predicting the prognosis in asymptomatic patients and in providing genetic counseling for prenatal diagnosis. In this report, we aimed to add new data to the literature by evaluating 37 patients with likely pathogenic/pathogenic variants for the detected variants’ nature, patients’ phenotypes, and histopathological features. As a result, the general clinical presentation of the 23 different variants was presented, the high frequency of NM_000070.3:c.550delA mutation in Exon 4 was discussed, and some novel genotype–phenotype associations were suggested. We have underlined that calpainopathy can be misdiagnosed with inflammatory myopathies histopathologically. We have also emphasized that, in young or adult patients with mild to moderate proximal muscle weakness and elevated CK levels, calpainopathy should be the first suspected diagnosis.
BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate thermal characteristics of different types of pediatric cochlear implants METHODS: A total of 39 pediatric patients using Med-El (SynchronyR), Cochlear ...(NucleusR), or Advanced Bionics (HiRes 90KR) type of cochlear implants were included. A digital infrared thermal imaging analysis was performed to measure the heating over the implant and the tissue heating of the skin below and around the device, while skin thickness and visual analog scale scores were also recorded. RESULTS: Over the implant, heating values were significantly higher in the on-mode vs. off-mode of device for each type of implant (P ranged from <.05 to <.001). The implants groups were similar in terms of skin thickness, visual analog scale scores, on-mode values for heating over the implant, and the heating of the skin (below or around the device; <36degreesC for each), while the off-mode values for heating over the implant were significantly higher in the Med-El (SynchronyR) implants compared to other implants (median 31.75 vs. 31.30 and 30.20degreesC, P = .001). Skin thickness was negatively correlated with the heating over the implant (off-mode, r = -0.708, P < .001) and heating of the skin (around the device, r = -0.479, P = .028) in Advanced Bionics (HiRes 90KR) implants. CONCLUSION: Our findings emphasize that there is no hazard or discomfort from a cochlear implant in terms of heating of skin and no significant difference between 3 implant types in terms of skin thickness or tissue heating, whereas indicate the increased likelihood of thermal characteristics of implant to differ with respect to skin thickness in Advanced Bionics (HiRes 90KR) users. KEYWORDS: Cochlear implant, heating, over the implant, tissue heating, skin, infrared thermal imaging analysis
The aim of the present study was to compare the therapeutic effectiveness of intratympanic (IT) methylprednisolone and dexamethasone in the initial treatment of patients with idiopathic sudden ...sensorineural hearing loss (ISSHL).
A total of 46 patients with ISSHL who had been treated with IT methylprednisolone or dexamethasone were included in the present study. Dexamethasone (4 mg/mL) and methylprednisolone (20 mg/mL) were given transtympanically to 22 and 24 patients, respectively, one dosage per day for 5 consecutive days. Audiologic evaluations were performed pretreatment, daily in inpatient clinics, and in the first week and second month after discharge, using four-frequency pure-tone average (PTA) and speech discrimination score (SDS). Audiologic improvement was classified according to the Furuhashi criteria.
According to the Furuhashi criteria, the therapeutic success rate was 62.5% (complete improvement 16.7% and marked improvement 45.8%) in the methylprednisolone group, whereas it was 54.6% (complete improvement 27.3% and marked improvement 27.3%) in the dexamethasone group. Therapeutic success was higher in the methylprednisolone group; however, it was not statistically significant. When the audiologic improvement was accepted as >10 dB in PTA, the therapeutic success rates were 83.3% in the methylprednisolone group and 72.8% in the dexamethasone group. The mean (±SD) improvement of PTA before and after treatment was 30.8±21.4 in the methylprednisolone group and 24.7±2.5 in the dexamethasone group. The mean improvement in SDS was 32.6±25 in the methylprednisolone group and 23.7±26.9 in the dexamethasone group.
IT steroids are safe, effective, and well-tolerated agents in the initial treatment of patients with ISSHL. Despite having different pharmacokinetic characteristics, IT methylprednisolone and dexamethasone have no superiorities over each other in the primary treatment in patients with ISSHL.
Spexin is a peptide that is involved in energy homeostasis and its expression is influenced by altered glucose metabolism. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with increased insulin ...resistance (IR) and pregnancy is a progressive insulin resistant state. We hypothesized that spexin may have an effect on the pathophysiology of GDM which further could help to identify the disease. The aim of this study was to investigate spexin levels in the third trimester pregnancies with GDM and healthy controls. Thirty-nine women with GDM and 39 healthy singleton pregnancies were enrolled in this case-control study. Serum spexin concentrations were measured and correlated to biochemical and clinical parameters. Serum spexin levels were significantly higher in women with GDM (3686.25 ± 348.37 vs. 3472.33 ± 293.93 pg/ml, p=.004). Spexin levels did not differ significantly according to treatment modality. Moreover, spexin levels were significantly positively correlated with homeostasis model assessment of IR (HOMA-IR). Spexin levels were significantly higher in women with GDM and closely related to HOMA-IR in the third trimester pregnancy. This may help to better clarify the pathophysiological role of spexin in GDM.
PDF
