A reaction-based scenario for fluorescence probing of Au(III) ions in human cells and plants.

A BODIPY-based fluorophore decorated with a gold specific reactive handle (e.g., 2-alkynylallyl alcohol) displayed a ratiometric fluorescence change in response to Au3+ ions with extraordinary selectivity over other competing metal species, including Hg2+, Cu2+, Zn2+ and Pd2+. By way of a gold-catalyzed intramolecular cyclisation-isomerisation reaction sequence, a BODIPY construct with an extended π-conjugation transformed into a new structure with a relatively short π-system. This unique chemical transformation was accompanied by, and resulted in, a dramatic shift in the emission and absorption wavelength, which could be monitored as distinct changes in the color of the solution's emission. Apart from its outstanding analytical performance in solution, including a quick response time (<10 s), unique specificity, a high-fold ratiometric change (62-fold), and a remarkably low detection limit (358 nM), the probe also proved useful in monitoring Au3+ ions in human cells and plants (e.g., Nicotiana benthamiana).

Stochastic convergence of ecological footprint: new insights from a unit root test based on smooth transitions and nonlinear adjustment.

The ecological footprint has currently become a highly popular environmental performance indicator. It provides the basis for setting goals, identifying options for action, and tracking progress toward stated goals. Because the examination of the existence of convergence is important for the climate change protection of the earth, the convergence of ecological footprint and its subcomponents are a major concern for scholars and policymakers. To this end, this study aims to investigate the stochastic convergence of ecological footprint and its subcomponents. We employ the recently developed Hepsag (2021) unit root test that allows nonlinearity and smooth structural change simultaneously to study stochastic convergence in per-capita ecological footprint over the period 1961-2018 for the most polluting countries. The results provide mixed evidence of the presence of stochastic convergence in conventional unit root tests such as ADF, KPSS and Fourier KPSS. According to the Hepsag (2021) unit root test results for all countries, built-up land footprint converges except Australia, Malaysia, Poland, and Turkey. Carbon footprint converges for Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey, the UK, and the USA. Cropland footprint converges for Australia, Canada, China, France, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Poland, South Africa, the UK, and Vietnam. Fishing grounds footprint converges in Brazil, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, South Africa, and Vietnam. Forest product footprint converges in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, India, Korea, Mexico, Poland, Turkey, and Vietnam. Grazing land footprint converges in Canada, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Poland, South Africa, Thailand, and Vietnam. And lastly, the total ecological footprint converges in Canada, France, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, South Africa, the UK, and the USA.

A novel adaptive state-of-charge balancing control scheme for cascaded H-bridge multilevel converter based battery storage systems.

Variations in state-of-charges (SOCs) of batteries in a cascaded H-bridge multilevel converter (CHB-MLC) based battery storage system (BSS) could lead to undesired efficiency and performance drops, even failure of the whole system. Hence, SOC balancing is crucial for BSSs. Avoiding over-modulation region, ensuring zero common-mode voltage and reaching balanced SOC condition as quickly as possible are the key points to consider while performing SOC balancing. In this paper, a gain-scheduling based adaptive SOC balancing method is proposed for single-phase CHB-MLC based BSSs. In the proposed method, gains of the proportional controllers are updated at each sampling time based on the mathematical relationship between instantaneous SOCs and voltage reference of the CHB-MLC. Performance of the proposed method is validated through a Monte Carlo simulation based numerical analysis and experimental studies on a single-phase three-module CHB-MLC based BSS. Results reveal that the proposed method achieves SOC balancing at least two times faster than the traditional constant gain methods while avoiding over-modulation region and having zero common-mode voltage.

Effects of verapamil, nifedipine, and daflon on the viability of reverse-flow island flaps in rats.

Reverse-flow flaps are preferable in reconstructive surgery due to their several advantages. However, they may have venous insufficiency and poor blood flow. In this study, effects of various pharmacological agents on the viability of reverse-flow flaps were investigated. Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were used. Superficial epigastric artery- and superficial epigastric vein-based reverse-flow island flaps were preferred. The rats were divided into 4 groups. Group 1 was considered as the control group. Group 2 was given verapamil 0.3 mg/kg per day, group 3 nifedipine 0.5 mg/kg per day, and group 4 Daflon 80 mg/kg per day for 7 days. On day 7, viable flap areas were measured, angiography was performed, serum nitric oxide levels were evaluated, and histopathological examination was done.The mean flap viability rate was 67.59% (±13.12259) in group 1, 77.38% (±4.12506) in group 2, 74.57% (±3.44780) in group 3, and 85.39% (±4.36125) in group 4 (P = 0.001). The mean nitric oxide level was 31.66 µmol/dL (±2.42212) in group 1, 51.00 µmol/dL (±2.96648) in group 2, 34.00 µmol/dL (±2.96648) in group 3, and 47.66 µmol/dL (±2.80476) in group 4 (P = 0.001). On angiography, there were vessel dilations and convolutions in group 2; capillaries became noticeable, and anastomotic vessels extended toward the more distal part of the flaps in group 4. Histological examinations showed severe inflammation in group 3 and minimal inflammation and venous vasodilatation in group 2.Verapamil and Daflon in therapeutic doses significantly increased the viability of reverse-flow island flaps. However, nifedipine did not make a significant contribution to the flap viability. The results of this study will contribute to the literature about the hemodynamics of reverse-flow island flaps and guide further studies on the issue.

Long-term results of surgical treatment of pigmented villonodular synovitis of the knee.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term results of total synovectomy in pigmented villonodular synovitis of the knee (PVNS). METHODS: Open total synovectomy was performed for 19 patients (9 men, 10 women; mean age: 42.8 years) with PVNS. Of these patients, 15 had diffuse and 4 localized PVNS. The patients were followed for an average of 80.2 months and the average time between the onset of complaints and surgery was 23 months. In 4 patients, PVNS was identified during total knee replacement (TKR) performed due to gonarthrosis. Radiotherapy was performed as an adjuvant treatment in one patient with recurrence. Puncture was performed in 11 patients due to effusion and 8 to 70 cc of fluid was aspirated. Diagnosis was made during the exposure for TKR in 4 patients, by a biopsy in 2 and based on joint puncture and MRI findings in the rest. RESULTS: Recurrence occurred in 5 patients. A second total synovectomy was performed in 4 patients. Radiotherapy was used for the remaining one patient. Two patients were operated three times. During the follow-up, TKR was performed in 7 of the 19 patients. None of the patients developed infection and hemarthrosis requiring puncture nor required amputation or arthrodesis. Three patients had a postoperative knee joint stiffness of 10 to 25 degrees. The patients were evaluated according to the Knee Society Score and 8 (42.2%) had perfect, 9 (47.3%) good and 2 (10.5%) bad results. CONCLUSION: PVNS is a disease with a high risk of recurrence. No individual or combined treatment method can offer a definitive solution. Open or arthroscopic radical synovectomy is still considered as the gold standard. If necessary, adjuvant intraarticular or extraarticular radiotherapy can be added to the treatment.

How should open tibia fractures be treated? A retrospective comparative study between intramedullary nailing and biologic plating.

BACKGROUND: In this retrospective study, our purpose was to compare two treatment alternatives clinically. METHODS: Forty-five patients who had grade I or II open tibia fractures were included. Twenty-five of them, treated via minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO), comprised group I. The latter 20 cases, treated via partial reamed intramedullary nailing (PR-IMN), comprised group II. Clinical evaluation was made on the basis of modified Ketenjian's criteria. RESULTS: Full weight-bearing periods in groups I and II were 21 and 22.4 weeks, respectively. Non-union in one case of group I was revised with circular fixator. In another case, implant removal was needed due to chronic osteomyelitis. Mal-union was detected in another. In group II, two cases needed implant revision with intramedullary nail in one and circular fixator in another for non-union. Mal-union in one case and chronic osteomyelitis in another were the late complications in group II. At the last follow-up, satisfaction rates were: 21/25 in group I and 18/20 in group II. There was no significant difference between groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: The clinical results of both groups were similar. Although intramedullary nailing is the first choice, MIPO is an alternative method for open tibia fractures.

Effects of different corticosteroids on edema and ecchymosis in open rhinoplasty.

A double-blind, randomized trial with placebo control was planned to evaluate the effects of corticosteroids (betamethasone, dexamethasone, methylprednisolone) in approximately equivalent doses (8 mg dexamethasone/day), and to compare their effects with that of tenoxicam, an antiinflammatory drug, on both the edema and ecchymosis in open rhinoplasty with osteotomies. For this study, 40 patients were divided randomly into five groups of 8 patients each, which received, respectively, betamethasone (group 1), dexamethasone (group 2), methylprednisolone (group 3), tenoxicam (group 4), and placebo (group 5). Open rhinoplasty with osteotomies was performed by the same surgeon with the patient under general anesthesia. Drugs were administered just before the induction of anesthesia and continued for 3 days. Only acetaminophen was used to control postoperative analgesia. Digital photographs of each patient were taken on postoperative days 1, 3, and 7. Scoring was performed separately for eyelid swelling and ecchymosis by three observers independently using a graded scale from 0 to 4. No statistically significant differences existed among the five groups in terms of age, sex, duration of surgery, amount of bleeding, and intravenous fluid administration during the surgery. On postoperative days 1, 3, and 7, no differences in the levels of ecchymosis or edema among the steroid groups, the tenoxicam group, and the control groups were observed. In conclusion, the authors observed no significant differences among the different kinds of steroids administered in equivalent doses (8 mg dexamethasone/day). Steroids used in these doses were not effective in preventing or reducing edema and ecchymosis after open rhinoplasty with osteotomies. Tenoxicam also was not effective. No complications caused by the use of steroids were observed during the 6-month follow-up period.

The use of high-density porous polyethylene as a custom-made nasal spreader graft.

The concept and technique of using high-density porous polyethylene (HDPP), a nonresorbable synthetic material, for nasal spreader grafts, are presented. This material is thought to be particularly useful in revision (secondary or tertiary) rhinoplasty, in which internal valve collapse frequently is confronted and septal cartilage often is unavailable because it has been harvested for spreader or other grafts. Sold as a thin plain sheet (0.85 x 38 x 50 mm) that can be cut to an appropriate size for spreader grafts, HDPP is a ready-to-use material commercially available on the market. Because HDPP permits ingrowths of fibrous tissue inside and around, it is a nonabsorbable material that stabilizes the upper lateral cartilages in their new position and maintains the appropriate internal valve angle. The authors used this material for 15 patients undergoing secondary (n = 12) and tertiary (n = 3) rhinoplasty because of valvular collapse. During the mean follow-up period of 16 months (range, 8-30 months), neither complication nor recurrence of airway obstruction occurred.

[The results of primary repair and early passive rehabilitation in zone II flexor tendon injuries in children]. / Cocuklarda ikinci bölge fleksör tendon yaralanmalarinda primer onarim ve erken pasif rehabilitasyon sonuçlari.

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the results of zone II flexor tendon injuries treated by primary repair and early rehabilitation in children under the age of 14 years. METHODS: The study included 25 digits of 23 patients (12 boys, 11 girls; mean age 7 years; range 2 to 14 years) with appropriate follow-up. Sixteen patients underwent surgery within the first 24 hours, while the remaining patients had surgery in a mean of three days (range 2 to 14 days). Digital nerve injuries were detected in 10 digits (40%). Repair of the tendons was performed with the use of a modified Kessler technique followed by an above-elbow stabilization splint. Passive flexion-extension exercises were started on the postoperative first day according to the Duran technique. The results were evaluated according to the Glocovac and Strickland's criteria. The mean follow up period was 49 months (range 12 to 92 months). RESULTS: Functional results were excellent in 18 digits (72%), good in five digits (20%), fair in one digit (4%), and poor in one digit (4%). The mean total active movement was 78.5% (range 0% to 100%). No significant differences were observed in functional results with regard to age groups and the presence or absence of digital nerve injuries (p>0.05). No occurrences of infection were encountered. CONCLUSION: The results show that primary repair and early passive mobilization of zone II flexor tendon injuries in children yield satisfactory results.