bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of PEKK and CF-PEKK Composite Bone Plates via 3D Printing and Pressing for Void Reduction and Improved Mechanical Strength
Authors:   , Chapagain Pratik , Kurtz Steven M.
Published: January 2025

The search for innovative implant materials for orthopedics application has led to the exploration of advanced, high performing thermoplastics in the PAEK family. These materials have potential to overcome the drawbacks of traditional metal implants like stress shielding and corrosion. This thesis, "Development of PEKK and CF-PEKK Composite Bone Plates via 3D Printing and Pressing for Void Reduction and Improved Mechanical Strength," addresses these challenges by examining the effectiveness of Polyetherketoneketone (PEKK) composite for such orthopedic applications. PEKK has only caught attention in orthopedic applications in recent years. Unlike metals, the modulus of these composites is comparable to that of bone. This research focuses on developing and optimizing trauma plates made from PEKK and carbon fiber reinforced PEKK (CF-PEKK) using a 2-step process; fabrication through 3D printing followed by pressing, a post processing step that can improve the mechanical strength and structural integrity of bone plates by reducing voids and enhancing material consolidation. The goals of this research were achieved by printing PEKK and CF-PEKK plates, custom designing and machining a mold for pressing, optimizing consolidation parameters like temperature and pressure, and conducting mechanical testing and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and to check for improvements post pressing. Resulting plates showed significant improvements in the mechanical performance of pressed plates with flexural strength (Unpressed PEKK: 51.33 ± 1.01 MPa vs Optimal Pressed PEKK: 121.41 ± 10.49 MPa, Unpressed CF-PEKK: 32.29 ± 1.29 MPa vs Optimal Pressed CF-PEKK: 241.73 ± 14.9 MPa) and modulus (Unpressed PEKK: 2.41 ± 0.09 GPa vs Optimal Pressed PEKK: 5.06 ± 0.72 GPa, Unpressed CF-PEKK: 1.67 ± 0.04 GPa vs Optimal Pressed CF-PEKK: 8.33 ± 0.90 GPa) significantly increasing (p<0.0001) after pressing. SEM confirmed a notable reduction in voids and improved surface quality indicating good consolidation. This research makes valuable contribution in implant design in orthopedics. It demonstrates that PEKK & its composite bone plates show superior mechanical properties that closely align with the requirements for bone plate implants. This sets a strong foundation for potential clinical use of PEKK and its composite to address the challenges with metal implants. This thesis advances the understanding of high-performance polymer composite in biomedical engineering providing an innovative approach to manufacture orthopedic implants.
Assessing targets of selection and coevolution in a symbiont-mediated aphidparasitoid antagonism
Authors:   , Carpenter Melissa Margaret , O'Connor Michael
Published: January 2025

Association with heritable microbial symbionts is common insects. These symbionts can perform a variety of functions, including ones which benefit the fitness of their host. While some of these symbionts are obligate, being required by their host for survival, others are facultative. They are only found in some members of a population, can be lost by the host, and frequently are able to transfer to new hosts via horizontal transmission. Beneficial facultative symbionts can also serve as a source of additional variation for their hosts. Hosts can leverage symbionts to respond to selection pressures, thus leading to host-level selection acting on the symbionts. This could allow for rapid adaptation of insects in the field. In cases where the selective pressure is being applied by another organism, particularly a pathogen or parasite, it also creates the potential for antagonistic coevolution between a pathogen/parasite and the protective symbiont. In collaboration with other members of the Russell lab, I looked for evidence of host-level selection acting on symbionts in the pea aphid model symbiont system. I found that while in some cases significant shifts in symbiont frequency were due to hitchhiking with coinfecting symbiont, there was strong evidence of selection for symbionts by environmental pressures they were predicted to protect against. Building on the theme of symbiont-mediated host adaptation, I also sought to determine if defensive symbiont Hamiltonella defensa, its prophage APSE, mediate coevolution between pea aphids and the parasitoid wasp Aphidius ervi, introduced to United States as a biocontrol agent. I found a significant amount of strain diversity of H. defensa-APSE in the field. In some cases strain composition varied across years in a manner resembling negative frequency dependent selection, potentially supporting the idea that antagonistic coevolution is occurring in this system. I also found that H. defensa-APSE strains mediate genotype x genotype interactions between A. ervi and pea aphid hosts. Such specificity is expected under allele matching/trench warfare-like coevolution, but the trade-offs expected under these models are not yet evident from my experiments. Finally, I found evidence that A. ervi populations may be evolving higher virulence toward aphids with regionally common symbiont strains in those fields. In summary, while it is not yet clear whether parasitoids drive the observed symbiont dynamics, shifts in symbionts have clearly driven changes in A. ervi, revealing how biocontrol agents adapt to changing defenses of their targeted hosts.
Characterization of Genomic Regions for Improved Reference Genomes Using Optical Mapping and Sequencing Technologies
Authors:   , Wong Jessica , Xiao Ming
Published: January 2025

The completion of the hg38 human reference genome in 2003 marked a significant milestone in genomics research, serving as a critical resource for understanding the genetic basis of health and diseases, and guiding the development of various genotyping and computational tools. Despite its importance, the reference genome has several limitations. It lacks global genetic diversity as it is based on a small sample of U.S. donors, it fails to include many common sequencing variations, and it does not accurately reflect haplotype configurations from different populations. Moreover, large portions of the genome, including pericentromeric and subtelomeric regions, remain uncharacterized due to their highly polymorphic and repetitive nature, which poses significant challenges for current sequencing technologies. These limitations hinder the accurate alignment of reads and downstream analyses, resulting in the exclusion of regions with genomic complexity from genomic studies and an incomplete understanding of structural variations, which are critical in genetic diversity and disease. To address these gaps, the integration of long-read sequencing technologies and optical mapping has been proposed. These technologies offer higher accuracy and the ability to resolve regions with genomic complexity and SVs that short-read sequencing cannot. The integration of these methods was used to create comprehensive, haplotype-resolved reference genomes in different populations. This thesis sought to develop and validate pipelines that integrate these advanced technologies to study regions across diverse populations, ultimately leading to better identification of variants and improving genotype-to-phenotype correlations.
The Genre Continuum of the Anonymous Burlesque-travesty Poem in Belarusian Literature of the 19th – 21st Centuries: Features of its Origin and Development
Authors: Martysevich Maryia
Published: January 2025

The article is devoted to the study of the genre continuum of a burlesque-travesty poem (BTP) in the Belarusian poetry of the 19th – early 21st centuries. The main goal of the study is to determine the role of BTP in the process of shaping modern Belarusian literature, based on the hypothesis that the role of BTP in this process was fundamental: if the works of the 19th century actually formed the foundation of the Belarusian literary process, then later texts contributed to its reformatting in the context of the new literary situation of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. The study is based on a comparative-typological analysis of five texts from different times, which the author of the article attributes to the BTP genre: Èneіda navyvarat (Aeneid Inside Out), Taras na Parnase (Taras on Parnassus), Skaz pra Lysuû Garu (The Tale of the Bald Mountain), Luka Mudzіščaǔ – Prezident (Luka Mudishchev the Prezident) and Zianon-Hop. The relevance of the research lies in the fact that the epic works mentioned above are considered comprehensively as elements of one genre system; the article introduces the definition of "genre continuum" – a sum of texts that are similar in form and content, united by a plot, which are often a free translation of a work of a neighbouring culture or an imitation of earlier works of national culture. Based on this analysis, the main features of BTP genre within national culture are identified, namely anonymity, virality, variability, grotesqueness, political involvement, ambivalence and meta-irony. In addition, a special table shows the dynamics of „high / old” and „low / new” codes of five texts, on this basis conclusions are drawn about the evolution of the picture of the world of intellectual elites of Belarus in the last two centuries. Under the influence of the cultural-historical method, it is noted that, despite the existence of this or that text in the worldview system of its time, BTP remained inert to literary influences, being on the one hand a product of the socio-cultural situation, and on the other – an invariant of a hermetic genre continuum.
Author's Strategy and the Formation of Creative Individuality: Eugenia Yanishchits and Olga Sedakova
Authors: Danilchyk Aksana
Published: January 2025

The article analyzes the problem of the influence of the author's strategy of interaction with the readership on the formation of creative individuality on the example of the works of the Belarusian poetess Eugenia Yanishchits and the Russian poetess Olga Sedakova. The relevance of the topic lies in understanding the theoretical problem of the formation of creative individuality in the cultural, aesthetic and socio-ideological contexts of the last century. The purpose of the study is to identify possible ways to reveal creative individuality depending on interaction with official literary institutions, the choice of a reference group and other factors. Based on comparative analysis using the historical-descriptive method, the question of the influence of the field of power on the field of literature is considered from the point of view of the choice of subject matter of works. The distancing of the creative position at the initial stage of literary activity from the generally accepted canon, in this case from the socialist realist canon, and from literary institutions is the main difference between the author’s strategy of the two poetesses in choosing a reference group, which determined the features of the formation of their creative individuality.
On the etymology of selected surnames of inhabitants of the village of Lewkowo Nowe, Hajnówka District, Białystok Region
Authors: Sajewicz Michał
Published: January 2025

The main goal of the paper was to determine the probable etymology of thirteen selected surnames of inhabitants of the Lewkowo Nowe village in the Narewka commune, Hajnówka district, Białystok Region. The surnames were analyzed that had not been the object of etymological analysis before, as were the surnames with established etymologies, which, however, require some additional explanations and corrections reflecting the current state of knowledge of anthroponymy, especially on the linguistic-cultural borderlands. The etymologically analyzed surnames are borne both by the first inhabitants of Lewkowo Nowe and their descendants, cf. Ciełuszecki, Puczyński, Sacharczuk, Skiepko, as well as by the inhabitants who settled in the village in question after World War II, especially on the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries, cf. Bakanacz, Kardasz, Kryszeń, Panufnik, Poskrobko, Rubczewski, Smolski, Szykuła, Wołkowycki. The article devotes most attention o the surnames: Bakanacz, Kardasz, Kryszeń, and Panufnik, which, as the current studies show, cause the most difficulties to etymologists trying to establish their origin.
Intangible Cultural Heritage of Belarus and Poland in the Media – an Analysis Based on the Example of “Koniki” Carolling in Dawyd-Haradok and “Walking with a Goat” in Kuyavia
Authors: Leshkevich Alena
Published: January 2025

The article analyses the similarities and differences in the representation of intangible cultural heritage in Belarusian and Polish press materials and social networks, which in the long run may serve to develop recommendations on the creation of an Ethical Code for journalists and other authors working with intangible cultural heritage. This text reflects not only the position of the researcher, but also that of a journalist and activist, who has been covering topics related to the intangible cultural heritage in the Belarusian media since 2012, working in different cultural institutions, and since 2008 has been associated with the NGO “Students’ Ethnographic Association” accredited by UNESCO to provide advisory services to the Intergovernmental Committee in the framework of the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
TELEMEDICINE AND MEDICAL MALPRACTICE
Authors: Kayhan Uğur , Liman Zafer
Published: January 2025

Digitization in healthcare covers many topics such as artificial intelligence, robotic surgery, wearable health technologies, nanotechnology, 3D printers, virtual reality applications, electronic prescription, and remote health delivery services (telemedicine). Among these developments, telemedicine is one of the applications that are expected to cause significant changes in the classical patient-physician relationship in the near future. Telemedicine is defined as the use of electronic information and communication technologies to provide and support health services in situations where distance is a problem. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), telemedicine applications are divided into five main categories: teleradiology, teledermatology, telepathology, telepsychiatry, and telemonitorization. Due to the increasing need and demand after the COVID-19 epidemic in Turkey, the "Regulation on the Delivery of Remote Health Services" was published in the Official Gazette dated 10.02.2022. Telemedicine applications, which are fast, effective and financially sustainable healthcare services, have various advantages and disadvantages. This system offers main advantages such as increasing the quality of health services, decreasing economic costs, providing equally accessible health services to everyone, including those living in different age groups and/or rural areas, alleviating the workload of the emergency service, and preventing the increasing incidence of violence in health. Besides lack of face-to-face communication, insurance payment coverage, and digital security problems are the possible disadvantages of the system. The lack of the necessary legal infrastructure and the new implementation of telemedicine pose significant risks in terms of malpractice. In addition to informed consent, diagnosis, follow-up, treatment, consultation, and medical record processes, in these cases, it is important for medical malpractice evaluation to reveal the differences between telemedicine from classical medical education teachings and to draw its legal framework clearly. In our study, it is planned to guide the possible processes in Turkey by considering the approaches to malpractice in the practices of countries where telemedicine is applied.
HİPOTİROİDİDE, BENLİK SAYGISI, ANKSİYETE VE DEPRESYON İLE KOTİZOL/DEHİDROEPİANDROSTERON SULFAT ORANLARININ KARŞILAŞTIRILMASI
Authors: Kızılkaya Hafize , Turan Elif , Bozkurt Gurbet , Göçmen Yeşim , Aral Yalcin
Published: January 2025

AMAÇ: Hipotiroidisi olan hastalarda benlik saygısı, anksiyete ve depresyon ile kortizol/dehidroepiandrosteron sülfat (DHEAS) oranları arasındaki ilişkiyi araştırmayı amaçladık.
GEREÇ VE YÖNTEM: : Çalışmaya 18-70 yaş arası toplam 150 kişi dahil edildi. Hastalar ötiroid, subklinik hipotiroid ve hipotiroid olarak üç gruba ayrıldılar. Tiroid fonksiyonu, DHEAS ve kortizol düzeylerini elde etmek için açlık kanı alındı. Her hasta aynı psikolog tarafından Beck Depresyon Ölçeği, Beck Anksiyete Ölçeği ve Rosenberg Benlik Saygısı Ölçeği'ni doldurdu.
BULGULAR: Kortizol, kortizol/DHEAS oranları, depresyon ve anksiyete puanları hipotiroidi grubunda anlamlı olarak yüksekti. Kortizol düzeyleri ile benlik saygısı puanları arasında (r=-.233, p<.05); TSH düzeyleri ve kaygı (r=-0.212, p<.05) arasında; kendine saygı ve kaygı (r=-0.297, p<.05) arasında; depresyon puanları ve kendine saygı (r=-0.411, p<.05) arasında; depresyon puanları ve kortizol/DHEAS oranı (r=-0.187, p<.05) arasında negatif korelasyon bulundu. Kortizol ile anksiyete puanları arasında (r=+0.195, p<.05); kortizol ve kortizol/DHEAS oranı (r=+0.533, p<.05) arasında ve de serbest T3 ve benlik saygısı puanı (r=+.202, p<.05) arasında ise pozitif kolerasyon bulundu.
SONUÇ: Belirgin hipotiroidisi olan hastalar düşük benlik saygısı, anksiyete ve depresyon puanları ile ilişkiliydi. Ayrıca depresyon puanları ile kortizol/DHEAS oranıyla negatif korelasyon bulundu.
KLİNİK LABORATUVARDA KAN ÖRNEKLERİNDEKİ RET ORANLARININ DEĞERLENDİRİLMESİ
Authors: Ercan Müjgan , Ertekin Ayşe , Fenercioğlu Özge , Özcan Mehmet , Duman Rumeysa , Şahim Berika , Tunç Esra , Çeri İsmet Enis , Aydın Gürkan , Alkan Mehmet Ali , Engin Yasemin
Published: January 2025

AMAÇ: Kalite göstergeleri (KG), hata oranlarını azaltarak ve hasta güvenliğini koruyarak laboratuvar hizmetlerinin kalitesini iyileştirmek için kullanılan temel araçlardır. Çalışmamızda, acil servisten gelen ve reddedilen kan numunelerinin sayı ve oranları incelenerek IFCC’ nin (Uluslararası Klinik Kimya ve Laboratuvar Tıbbı Federasyonu) “Laboratuvar Hataları ve Hasta Güvenliği” Çalışma Grubu’nun (WG-LEPS) rapor ettiği kalite indekslerine göre karşılaştırılması amaçlandı.
GEREÇ VE YÖNTEM: Acil servisten Klinik Biyokimya Laboratuvarı'na gelen kan numunelerinin sayılarını değerlendirmek için, 2022 yılına ait veriler Laboratuvar Bilgi Sistemi’nden (LBS) geriye dönük olarak alındı. Analiz öncesi aşamada, laboratuvara gelen kan örneklerinin sayıları, reddedilme nedenlerine göre gruplandırılarak aylık ve yıllık yüzdeleri hesaplandı. IFCC WG-LEPS’nin üç hedef kriterlerini içeren ölçütler (%25’lik yüksek performans, %50’lik orta dereceli performans ve %75’lik düşük performans) kapsamında değerlendirildi.
BULGULAR: Toplam numune ret oranı % 2,3 olarak hesaplanmıştır. Reddedilme nedenlerine göre “hemolizli numune”, “uygun olmayan numune kabı”, “uygun olmayan numune miktarı” ve “pıhtılı numune”’ lerin % KG değerleri sırasıyla 0,72, 0,03, 0,77 ve 0,80 olarak belirlendi.
SONUÇ: Laboratuvarımızın “hemolizli numune” ve “uygun olmayan numune kabı’’ için % KG’sinin düşük performansa sahip olduğu gösterildi. “Pıhtılı numune” ve “uygun olmayan numune miktarı” için % KG’lerinin kabul edilemez aralıkta olduğu tespit edildi. Sonuç olarak, numune alımı ve transferi konularındaki eğitimlerin sıklığı artırılarak, sürecin kalitesinin artırılacağı düşüncesindeyiz.
COVİD PANDEMİSİNDE OSTEOPOROZA BAĞLI VERTEBRAL FRAKTÜRLERDEKİ ARTIŞ
Authors: Kiraz İlker , Çiltemek Nazar
Published: January 2025

AMAÇ: Tanımlayıcı ve kesitsel tipteki çalışma ile Covid-19 pandemisi sürecinde kronik bir hastalık olan osteoporozun artan vakalarını ve buna bağlı olarak osteoporozun neden olduğu vertebral kırıklarda kifoplasti/vertebroplasti sayısındaki artışı incelemektir.
GEREÇ VE YÖNTEM: Bu çalışmada, 2016 ile 2022 yılları arasında vertebral kırık nedeniyle kifoplasti ve vertebroplasti uygulanan toplam 250 hastanın retrospektif analizi yapıldı. Salgın öncesi ve sonrası dönemlerde cerrahi müdahale sayıları karşılaştırıldı. Etik kurul onayı alındıktan sonra veriler toplandı ve analiz edildi.
BULGULAR: İncelenen 250 hastanın %64.4'ünün kadın olduğu belirlenmiştir. Hastaların %40.8'i pandemi öncesi döneme, %59.2'si ise pandemi sonrası döneme aittir. Kifoplasti/vertebroplasti uygulanan hastaların %51.6'sında travma dışı nedenlere bağlı kırık olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Osteoporoz tanısı konulan 101 hastanın %31.6'sı pandemi öncesi döneme, %68.4'ü ise pandemi sonrası döneme aittir. Tedavi alan hastaların %48.9'u pandemi sonrası döneme aittir.
SONUÇ: Bu çalışma, COVID-19 pandemisi sırasında osteoporoz tanısı alan hastalarda vertebral kırıkların arttığını ve tedaviye olan erişimin azaldığını ortaya koymaktadır. Salgın döneminde aktivite eksikliği ve tedaviye olan erişimin kısıtlanması, osteoporozla ilişkili vertebral kırıkların artmasına yol açmaktadır. Sonuç olarak, pandemi sürecinde osteoporoz tanısı alan kişi sayısının arttığı ve buna bağlı oluşan kırıklar sonucunda kifoplasti oranlarında artış olduğu görülmüştür.
ASSESSMENT OF BODY COMPOSITIONS BY FOOT-TO-FOOT BIOELECTRIC IMPEDANCE AMONG CHILDREN WITH NEUROLOGICAL MANIFESTATIONS
Authors: Çavuşoğlu Dilek , Bilen Nimet Melis , Olgaç Dündar Nihal , Arıcan Pınar , Gençpınar Pınar , Pakdemirli Ahu , Orbatu Dilek
Published: January 2025

OBJECTIVE: In clinical practice, the use of foot-foot bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) in the assessment of body composition continues to increase. Its preference is primarily defined by its portability, simplicity, speed, and reliability. The present study aimed to evaluate body composition by BIA among children with neurological manifestations.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: Anthropometric measurements and body composition of 406 children attending the pediatric neurology outpatient clinic were analyzed, and the gender and groups were compared based on the diagnosis.
RESULTS: Boys manifested lower values of weight, percentage body fat (%BF), fat percentile, fat mass, and Body mass index (BMI) but higher values of percentage total body water (%TBW) than girls [weight (p = 0.015), %BF (p<0.001), fat percentile (p = 0.001), fat mass (p<0.001), BMI (p = 0.006), and %TBW (p<0.001)]. Significant differences were determined among the groups except for weight standard deviation score (SDS) and height SDS (p<0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: Based on body composition evaluation by foot-to-foot BIA, We may suggest that each neurological subgroup within the pediatric population demonstrates a distinct body composition. Therefore, evaluation of body composition will contribute to obtaining information about nutritional/hydration status..
SKABİYEZLİ HASTALARIN AİLELERİNİN YAŞAM KALİTESİNİN DEĞERLENDİRİLMESİ
Authors: Gurel Gulhan , Süncak Bahar , Özdemir Nagihan
Published: January 2025

AMAÇ: Skabiyez, deriye yerleşen ve şiddetli kaşıntıya neden olan Sarcoptes scabiei akarının neden olduğu bulaşıcı bir cilt hastalığıdır. Kronik cilt hastalıkları sadece hastayı değil, aynı zamanda dolaylı olarak aile üyelerini ve eşlerini de etkiler. Bu çalışmada amaç, dermatoloji polikliniğine başvuran skabiyez tanılı hastaların partner/eşlerinin yaşam kalitelerinin değerlendirilmesidir.
GEREÇ VE YÖNTEM: Bu kesitsel çalışmaya, dermatoloji polikliniğine başvurup, çalışmaya katılmayı kabul eden skabiyez tanısı alan 18 yaş üstü hastalar ve partner/eşleri dahil edilmiştir. Hastaların sosyodemografik özelliklerini incelemek için sosyodemografik veri formu ve ailelerin yaşam kalitesini değerlendirmek için Aile Dermatoloji Yaşam Kalite İndeksi (Family Dermatology Life Quality Index, FDLQI) formu doldurtuldu.
BULGULAR: Çalışmaya skabiyez tanılı 25 erkek ve 25 kadın hasta ve hastaların 18 yaş üstünde 50 partner/eşi katılmıştır. Hastaların yaş ortalaması 50±11,34 olarak saptandı. Hastaların 24’ünün (%48) partner/eşinde benzer şekilde geceleri artan gündüz azalan kaşıntı mevcuttu. Hastaların yarısından çoğunda geceleri uyku bozukluğu mevcuttu (32 hasta, %64). Toplam FDLQI skoru erkek hastaların partner/eşinde 14,64±6,73 iken kadın hastaların partner/eşinde 10,08±7,26 olarak saptandı. Bu skorlar arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı farklılık vardı. Buna göre erkek skabiyez hastalarının partner/eşinde yaşam kalitesinde daha fazla etkilenme olduğu sonucuna ulaşıldı.
SONUÇ: Skabiyez, tanısı konulduğunda rahatlıkla tedavi edilebilir bir hastalık olduğu halde, kronik inflamatuar pek çok dermatoz ile benzer şekilde yaşam kalitesini etkilemektedir. Bu da bize bulaşıcı paraziter bir hastalığın tedavi edilmediği taktirde hem hastayı hem de aile bireylerini özellikle eş/partnerleri önemli derecede etkileyebileceğini göstermektedir.
ELECTIVE GYNECOLOGICAL SURGERY DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC: A SINGLE CENTER EXPERIENCE
Authors: Dur Rıza , Çelik Fatih , Ahat Betül , Chkhikvadze Mariam , Yalçınkaya Yılmaz Ayşe , Kanat Pektaş Mine
Published: January 2025

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess the experience of a tertiary health center about the elective gynecological operations between the two peaks of COVID-19 pandemic.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a retrospective review of 609 patients who underwent elective gynecological surgery at Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University Hospital from 15 March 2020 to 30 April 2021.
RESULTS: All patients tested negative for COVID-19 preoperatively and 17 patients (2.8%) contracted COVID-19 during the 8-week-long period after the hospital discharge. The averagetime to test positivity was calculated as 4.0±1.3 weeks (range:2-7 weeks). The most common indications for elective gynecological surgeries were abnormal bleeding (30.9%), adnexal mass (19.2%) and uterine leiomyoma (16.9%). Operative hysteroscopy was the most performed gynecological operation (26%),followed by abdominal hysterectomy (17.6%) and laparoscopic hysterectomy (16.2%). The concurrence of hypertension and diabetes mellitus, incompetent cervix and cervical cerclage wassignificantly more prevalent in the patients who tested positive for COVID-19 after surgery (p=0.001 for all). The patients whotested positive for COVID-19 following hospital discharge andthose who did not contract COVID-19 were statistically similarwith respect to postoperative complications and duration ofhospitalization. Four patients (0.65%) who underwent electivegynecological surgery died within 8 weeks following the hospital discharge. None of the deaths were related to COVID-19infection.
CONCLUSIONS: Performing elective gynecological surgery appears as a safe approach during COVID-19 pandemic. Concurrent existence of hypertension and diabetes mellitus and cervical cerclage might be associated with postoperative contagion of COVID-19.
ÇOCUK ACİL SERVİSTE SPONTAN PNÖMOTORAKS TANISI ALAN HASTALARIN RETROSPEKTİF OLARAK DEĞERLENDİRİLMESİ
Authors: Yalçın Gülşen , Özdemir Balcı Özlem , Savaş Tonak Barkın , Dede Ümit , Kılıççıoğlu İlkay , Anıl Murat
Published: January 2025

AMAÇ: Spontan pnömotoraks (SP) pediatrik popülasyonda nadir görülen bir durumdur. Bu çalışmada SP’nin, klinik özellikleri, tedavi biçimleri ve sonuçlarının literatür verileri ışığında değerlendirilmesi amaçlandı.
GEREÇ VE YÖNTEM: Çalışmada, 2013 - 2023 tarihleri arasında çocuk acil servisine başvuran SP tanısı almış hastaların yaş, cinsiyet, boy, vücut kitle indeksi (VKİ), sigara içme ve madde bağımlılığı öyküsü, başvuru şikayeti, radyolojik bulguları, pnömotoraksın lokalizasyonu, pnömotoraks yüzdeleri, uygulanan tedavi, tedavi süresi, nüks ve tedavinin sonuçları belirlendi.
BULGULAR: Çalışmaya toplam 21 hasta dahil edildi. Olguların %95,2 erkek hasta ve yaş ortalaması 16,1±1,1 yıl olarak bulundu. Ortalama kilo=56,5±6,7 kg ve boy=175,2 ± 5,03 cm idi. Boy standart deviasyon skoru (SDS)=0.48±0,41, kilo SDS=-0.96± 0,42 ve VKİ SDS=-1,5± 0,47 idi. Klinik bulgu olarak en sık nefes darlığı (% 90,4) şeklindeydi. Toplam 12 hasta sigara, iki hastada sigara + madde bağımlılığı vardı. Kız hastada sigara içme öyküsü ve pnömotoraks olduğunda adet öyküsü vardı. Olguların %80,9 sol pnömotoraks mevcuttu. Göğüs bilgisayarlı tomografisi % 47 hastaya çekildi. Akciğer grafisinde hesaplanan pnömotoraksın oranı % 31,9±13,4 olarak bulundu. Tedavide % 42 hastaya tüp torakostomi, % 4,7 hastaya ponksiyon uygulandı. Diğer % 52 hastaya ise oksijen tedavisi uygulandı. Hastaların ilk geldiklerinde SpO2 değerleri ortalama %96,8±0,96 idi. Yapılan laboratuvar testlerinde patoloji saptanmadı. Hastaların % 90,4 yatış yapıldı. Ortalama hastanede yatış süresi 4,7±2,3 gün idi. İki hastada nüks gelişti. Hastalar ortalama 2 yıl izlendi.
SONUÇ: SP’li hastalarda acil ve etkili tedavi gerektirir. Çocukluk çağı SP’nin başlangıç tedavi yöntemleri arasında farklı uygulamalar mevcuttur. Standart yaklaşımın sağlanması amacıyla yeni çalışmalara ihtiyaç olduğunu düşünmekteyiz.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DE RITIS SCORE AND RADIAL ARTERY STENOSIS IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING CORONARY ANGIOGRAPHY VIA THE TRANSRADIAL ACCESS
Authors: Kanal Yücel , Ağırlar Murat , Kanal Hatice Eftal Şeyda , Öncü Süleyman , Koyun Emin , Yakut İdris
Published: January 2025

OBJECTIVE: While transradial access (TRA) coronary angiography (CAG) is recommended, radial artery stenosis (RAS) remains a significant issue in these patients. In patients with RAS, the reuse of the radial artery for CAG, as a coronary artery bypass graft, or as a conduit for hemodialysis fistula formation can pose a serious problem. The De Ritis score is defined as the ratio between the levels of aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) in the serum. Our study aimed to assess the relationship between RAS and the De Ritis score.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: This retrospective study included a total of 96 patients who underwent elective CAG via the radial artery route in our hospital's catheter laboratory and were subsequently placed under medical follow-up.
RESULTS: In our study, the De Ritis score was significantly higher in RAS+ patients than in the RAS- patient group (1.72 vs. 1.10; p=0.006). Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the De Ritis score was an independent predictor of RAS (p=0.037). The De Ritis ratio predicted significant RAS with a cut-off point of 1.35, achieving a sensitivity of 70% and a specificity of 79% (AUC: 0.787, 95% CI: 0.643-0.932, p: 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: Our study identified that an elevated De Ritis score is an independent indicator of RAS.
COMPARISON OF ULTRASOUND-GUIDED TRUCUT NEEDLE BIOPSY AND LAPAROSCOPY IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF HIGH-GRADE SEROUS OVARIAN CANCER
Authors: Özdemir Cem Yağmur , Arıöz Dağhan Arda , Çiçekli Nayif , Ahat Betül , Çoşkun Hüseyin , Demir Hacer , Öner Öznur , Arıöz Dağıstan Tolga
Published: January 2025

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to compare tru-cut biopsy with laparoscopy
in the diagnosis of high-grade serous ovarian cancer
(HGSC) in our clinic.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: Our retrospective study included
patients who underwent surgery for HGSC between January
2013 and December 2023. Patients with pathologically confirmed
(FIGO 2018) stage III or IV HGSC underwent neoadjuvant
chemotherapy (NACT) and interval debulking surgery (IDS)
were performed. Exclusion criteria were patients with stage
I and II ovarian cancer and who did not receive NACT. Additionally,
patients with non-high-grade serous ovarian cancer or
non-gynecological conditions were excluded. As a result, 60
patients were included in the study. Participants were categorized
into two groups, namely, Group 1 (Patients diagnosed with
HGSC by tru-cut biopsy before NACT) and Group 2 (Patients diagnosed
with HGSC by diagnostic laparoscopy before NACT).
Time-to-event analyses were conducted using the Kaplan- Meier
method and log-rank test. Statistical significance was defined
when p < 0.05.
RESULTS: Out of the 60 patients, 32 patients were diagnosed
by tru-cut biopsy and 28 patients with laparoscopy. The overall
survival (OS) of Group 1 was 53.1%, and for Group 2, it was
71.4% (p = 0.371). The progression-free survival (PFS) rate was
56.3 for Group 1 and 64.3% for Group 2 (p = 0.464). No significant
difference was detected in terms of recurrence, OS and
PFS. We found a significant difference between Group 1 and
Group 2 only in terms of hospitalization time (p < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: HGSC is a histopathological subgroup of ovarian
cancer that is difficult to diagnose and manage. While primary
debulking surgery remains in the background, the importance
of tru-cut biopsy in terms of short hospital stay should
not be forgotten in the diagnostic evaluation of patients.
IImpact of Monetary Incentives on Teacher Decisions to Leave and Choose Schools: Evidence from a Policy Reform in Sao Paulo
Authors: Elacqua Gregory , Rodrigues Mateus , Rosa Leonardo
Published: January 2025

Teacher turnover is a major challenge for human resource management in schools, adversely affecting student learning. We examine the impact of a monetary incentive program introduced in 2022 in the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil, which aims to reduce teacher turnover by allocating wage premiums ranging from 5% to 25% of base salary based on schools turnover levels. Our results show a significant reduction in turnover: an average decrease of 18% across all schools, with an even more pronounced 30% reduction in schools offering higher incentives. Notably, the program also attracted new teachers to these higher-incentive schools. An analysis of teacher preferences similarly reveals a shift towards schools offering greater wage premiums. Furthermore, we find that schools offering high incentives experienced significant improvements in student test scores, with gains of 0.3-0.6 standard deviations in standardized assessments. The findings demonstrate the effectiveness of monetary incentives in mitigating teacher turnover and improving educational outcomes, providing evidence-based guidance for policymakers developing teacher retention strategies.
Análise da Proposta de um Framework Autoaplicável de Orientação Profissional
Authors: Franco Isabela de Melo , Fortunato Wellington dos Santos , Ferreira Marcos
Published: January 2025

Esta é uma resenha de dois artigos científicos publicados nas edições XXIV e XXV do SEMEAD - Seminários em Administração FEA-USP. Os artigos analisam práticas de orientação profissional, focando em Coaching, Mentoring e Aconselhamento de Carreira. O primeiro artigo investiga as características e aplicações desses processos em ambientes organizacionais competitivos, propondo um modelo teórico preliminar. Já o segundo artigo enriquece esse modelo com insights de especialistas, reforçando a importância do autoconhecimento e do protagonismo na carreira. A relevância para os estudantes de graduação e pós-graduação reside na ampla disponibilização de informações sobre os processos de orientação profissional mais frequentemente trabalhados no contexto organizacional. Além disso, os artigos apresentam diversas metodologias científicas, ilustrando a transposição da teoria para a prática. Essa abordagem integrativa contribui para o aprimoramento do conhecimento prático e teórico dos acadêmicos, habilitando-os a aplicar em conceitos relevantes em suas trajetórias profissionais.
Analysis and consistency of data on the purpose of use of water resource grants in the State of Tocantins in the Cnarh40 system
Authors: Vale Telma Maria do , Santos Mateus Chagas dos
Published: January 2025

The National Registry of Water Resource Users (CNARH), established by Resolution No. 317 of 2003, is a system that aims to gather and systematize detailed information about water users, facilitating equitable and sustainable management of resources. It was implemented in the State of Tocantins in 2017 and has been widely used since then, where the user declares data on water use and subsequent validation by technicians from the Instituto Natureza do Tocantins - Naturatins. In view of the inconsistencies in the data declared by users, it was found necessary to validate them on the platform. From the export of the data to a spreadsheet and subsequent categorization of the interferences, the status of each point was identified, including categories such as "Under analysis", "Rejected and not grantable", "Invalid", "Granted and authorized", "Insignificant use" and "Other". The research highlighted the categories “Granted” and “Insignificant use”, analyzing the consistency of the declared purposes in comparison with the administrative acts in the Integrated Environmental Management System (SIGAM). The reclassification of the purposes revealed that many interferences in the “other” category could be better specified. The analysis also highlighted a notable increase in the categories “Services” and “Animal Raising”, reflecting changes in the practices and needs of water resource use in the State. These results suggest the need for improvement in the categorization and processing of grant data, to ensure more efficient and accurate management of water resources.
Analysis of the Distribution and Management of Tubular Wells in the Urban Area of Cuiabá, Mato Grosso
Authors: Ribeiro Leticia de Souza , Fantin'Cruz Ibraim , Santana Stefani Caroline Antunes
Published: January 2025

Roundwater exploitation in urban areas, particularly in fractured rocks, faces significant challenges due to geological complexity impacting water resource management. This study aims to analyze the concentration and distribution of tubular wells in Cuiabá, identifying areas of overexploitation. Technical data on wells, including coordinates, flow rates, and pumping regimes, were organized in a database and spatially analyzed using density and interpolation techniques. The results reveal a high concentration of illegal wells, highlighting uncontrolled exploitation of groundwater resources with implications for sustainability. The analysis showed that 81.4% of wells are used for supply and sanitation, reflecting the increasing pressure on resources. The spatial distribution of illegal wells indicates higher vulnerability in specific areas, suggesting the need for stricter control. It is concluded that effective mapping and regulation of wells are crucial for sustainable groundwater resource management in Cuiabá.
Water quality of an urban stream and the perception of the surrounding population
Authors: Motta Andréia Cristina da , Figueiredo Daniela Maimoni de , Machado Tânia Cristina Lemes , Seba Odenil , Leite Erotildes Pereira , Silva Ana Paula Salvaterra da , Cruz Rúbia Fantin da
Published: January 2025

Accelerated urban growth in Brazil, without adequate planning, combined with the precariousness of sanitation, are the main causes of environmental degradation, resulting in deforestation, siltation of water bodies, suppression of riparian forests, and pollution of water resources, among others. This model of occupation and transformation of Brazilian cities is also present in the urban watershed in Várzea Grande (MT). The main objective of this study was to characterize the water quality of the Manga stream, located in this city, and to correlate it with the legal standards and the perception of the residents near the stream. The studies presented were conducted in two stages, in two periods: drought (August/2022) and rain (February/2023), with water collection at five points. Interviews were conducted with the residents, indicating in the results that the local community of the watershed is low-income and has little schooling, and they are aware of the problems and the lack of execution of public policies in the neighborhood. The changes in water quality, mainly indicated by the high results of Escherichia Coli bacteria, nitrogen, and phosphorus in the water, reflect the failures of inspection, public policies, and the precariousness of sanitation, which affects the population living near the stream and violates their rights to a healthy environment.
Fostering Understanding of Water Resources Through an Interactive Sandbox: An Approach in Environmental Education
Authors: Santana Stefani Caroline Antunes , Cruz Ibraim Fantin da
Published: January 2025

The two-dimensional representation of three-dimensional relief forms is often challenging for children and adolescents and can create obstacles in the learning process of topics related to water resources. This study proposes the conception and implementation of an interactive sandbox as a valuable educational tool for teaching water resources in elementary and secondary schools. The project involves constructing a sandbox equipped with sensors capable of identifying surface alterations, allowing students to create and modify interactive landscapes through visualization, thereby facilitating the learning process. The methodology adopted comprised three fundamental stages: assembling the sandbox, installing technological devices (including a Kinect depth sensor and a computer), and applying the 3D sandbox as an educational resource. Handling this tool provided students with the opportunity to visualize relief forms, exemplify water systems, and simulate phenomena such as rainfall and surface runoff. The presentation of the project in public schools elicited a highly positive response, as the visual appeal of the sandbox captivated and intrigued the audience, regardless of age or educational level. Thus, the sandbox demonstrated its potential as a promising tool, capable of being applied at various levels of education, providing an immersive and engaging understanding of concepts, stimulating exploration, analysis, and decision-making related to water resource management.
Evaluation of methylene blue-removal by adsorbents recovered from industrial activity
Authors: Jaldy Matheus Mineli , Visentin Alexandre Engel , Staub Chayanne Paula Pavan , Gomes Ana Carolina Costa , Silva Lismara Aparecida Ferreira da , França Michelle Milanês , Souza Fernanda Batista de , Rauen Thalita Grando
Published: January 2025

The study evaluated the application capacity of materials recovered from mining activities (nano hematite recovered from acid mine drainage and basaltic remineralizer (BR) (rock powder) discarded from quarries) as adsorbents in removing methylene blue dye. The adsorbent materials were characterized and had their zero-charge point determined, with pHPCZ 6.5 for rock powder and 5.5 for hematite. The results showed that the basaltic remineralizer contains 51.1% silicon dioxide, 15.2% hematite, and 13.2% alumina. The analysis also indicated that the levels of heavy metals in the rock powder were within the limits established by CONAMA resolution 420/2008, suggesting safety in its application in the environment. The adsorption tests were performed in batches, using 0.5 g of adsorbent in 100 mL of 10 mg. L-1 methylene blue solution. The experiments were performed in triplicate in the pH range of 2 to 6. The dye removal capacity was satisfactory, with hematite removing an average of 1.73 mg. g-1 and basaltic rock powder 2.08 mg. g-1. The greater efficiency of basaltic rock powder, even with a smaller amount of hematite (approximately 0.08 g), can be attributed to the concomitant presence of alumina, offering more active sites for dye adsorption. This study suggests new possibilities for removing textile dyes from effluents and adds commercial value to basaltic rock powder, a byproduct of the mining industry, and nanoparticles recovered from industrial activity.
Direct filtration system composed of coconut fiber as a filtering medium in water treatment
Authors: Ferreira Rennan Soares , Pereira Edilaine Regina , Oliveira Higor Aparecido Nunes de , Zago Ana Caroline
Published: January 2025

The use of inorganic coagulants has sparked discussions regarding the potential consequences on human health. In contrast, polymeric coagulants derived from tannin compounds show promise in water treatment. An important issue is the use of alternative materials in the construction of filters used in water treatment, such as those made with coconut fiber. The objective of this study was to compare the performance of sand filters (F1) with coconut fiber filters (F2), as well as the use of the inorganic coagulant aluminum sulfate (C1) compared to the organic tannin (C2). The tests were performed in duplicate, and the parameters pH, electrical conductivity, apparent color, and turbidity were evaluated using R software. The results showed that the pH was not altered and that the electrical conductivity decreased after the application of both coagulants, with F2 achieving a reduction of up to 73.4% using tannin. For turbidity, F2 achieved removals of 95.44% and 81.35% for C2 and C1, respectively. When analyzing the apparent color, F2 removed 85.38% using C2 and 55.38% with C1, demonstrating the efficiency of the coconut fiber filtering material. However, the use of a large amount of water for cleaning this filter becomes a problem and an issue to be addressed.
Influence of positioning on the adaptability of vegetation in an experimental rain garden in a tropical urban environment
Authors: Correia Kaylane Pimentel , Moreira João Guilherme Rodrigues , Chaves Maria Thereza Rocha , Farias Teresa Raquel Lima
Published: January 2025

Rain gardens have emerged as an alternative in stormwater management through infiltration and retention of precipitation on-site. The current literature shows a lack of studies evaluating the vegetation development processes in rain gardens and plant species exhibit better adaptation to the system, especially in tropical climate regions. In this context, this article aims to assess the influence of vegetation positioning on the adaptability of four native tropical climate species, namely, Mexican petunia (Ruellia simplex), song of India (Dracaena reflexa), spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum), and snake plant (Sansevieria trifasciata). For this purpose, plant growth was monitored biweekly for one year through measurements of height and diameter of the species cultivated in an experimental rain garden on a field scale. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was applied to verify the effect of plant location within the bioretention cell, evaluating whether certain microenvironments or specific positions favor or inhibit the species' development. Additionally, spatial distribution analysis of soil organic matter was conducted to assess potential heterogeneity in nutrient distribution. The evaluated species exhibited good adaptability, showing healthy morphological appearance and satisfactory growth. No statistically significant difference was identified in the interspecies growth rate in the monitored rain garden.
Machine learning for predicting flow and pressure in an oscillating water column wave energy converter
Authors: Cunegatto Eduardo Henrique Taube , Cisco Lenon Audibert , Zinani Flávia Schwarz Franceschini , Rigo Sandro José
Published: January 2025

The use of wave energy presents itself as a renewable alternative, diversifying the energy matrix and reducing the consumption of fossil fuels. One of the prominent devices for ocean wave harvesting is the Oscillating Water Column (OWC), which consists of a hydropneumatic chamber where the oscillation of the water surface compresses the confined air, driving a turbine. This work combines numerical simulation and machine learning algorithms, aiming to develop predictive models for mass flow rate and pressure through the OWC chamber. The database for the models was created using Design of Experiments (DOE) techniques, where different combinations of wave height and wavelength were simulated via Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) using the Finite Volume Method (FVM). Subsequently, the wave elevation height data is fed into a fully connected deep neural network, which uses the simulated data for learning and returns predictions based on the provided information. The model's performance is evaluated in terms of a cost function (Mean Squared Error). The employed model allows for the identification of flow rate and pressure peaks for the wave period provided at the input, and the results show differences of up to 5% in RMS (Root Mean Square) between the predictions and the CFD data. The main contribution of this work lies in the use of machine learning in predicting traditional operating conditions of an OWC device, introducing a concept that can be applied in the early stages of the design of such devices.