Power Muirhead mean in spherical normal fuzzy environment and its applications to multi-attribute decision-making: Spherical normal fuzzy power Muirhead mean.

This study aims to propose the power Muirhead mean (PMM) operator in the spherical normal fuzzy sets (SNoFS) environment to solve multiple attribute decision-making problems. Spherical normal fuzzy sets better characterize real-world problems. On the other hand, the Muirhead mean (MM) considers the relationship between any number of criteria of the operator. Power aggregation (PA) reduces the negative impact of excessively high or excessively low values on aggregation results. This article proposes two new aggregation methods: spherical normal fuzzy power Muirhead mean (SNoFPMM) and spherical normal fuzzy weighted power Muirhead mean (SNoFWPMM). Also, these operators produce effective results in terms of their suitability to real-world problems and the relationship between their criteria. The proposed operators are applied to solve the problems in choosing the ideal mask for the COVID-19 outbreak and investment company selection. However, uncertainty about the effects of COVID-19 complicates the decision-making process. Spherical normal fuzzy sets can handle both real-world problems and situations involving uncertainty. Our approach has been compared with other methods in the literature. The superior aspects and applicability of our strategy are also mentioned.

Effect of biochar origin and soil type on the greenhouse gas emission and the bacterial community structure in N fertilised acidic sandy and alkaline clay soil.

Soil amendment with biochar has received increased attention because of its potential to i) sequester carbon and ii) reduce N2O emission when applied to N fertilised soils. To study the effect of biochar origin on greenhouse gas emission in two contrasting soil types, we used a robotized continuous flow incubation system and δ13C stable isotope approach to compare four biochar types (feed stock: olive mill, corn cob, pistachio shell, cotton stalk) in an alkaline clay soil and two selected biochar types (feed stock: olive mill and corn cob) in an acidic sandy soil. Furthermore, high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA genes was performed at the end of the incubation to investigate the effect of different biochars on bacterial community structure in the two different soils. In the alkaline clay soil, all biochar types in conjunction with N fertiliser decreased CO2 emissions up to 12% compared to the N added control treatment causing negative priming, whereas no significant effect of biochar addition on N2O emissions was observed. In contrast, application of olive mill biochar to the acidic sandy soil significantly increased soil pH, CO2, and N2O fluxes, whereas no significant effect of corn cob biochar addition was observed. There was a significant linear relationship between the biochar induced increase in soil pH and the biochar induced increase in soil born N2O emission. Additionally, we detected a clear variation in bacterial community structure in the acidic sandy soil (phyla Acidobacteria, Nitrospirare, and Arthrobacter) with the olive mill biochar addition. Overall, the amendment of different biochars failed to mitigate N2O emissions in both soil types when mineral fertiliser was added. Furthermore, amendment of olive mill biochar stimulated both N2O and CO2 emissions in the low pH sandy soil and altered the bacterial community structure, which was possibly related to its liming effect.

Ginger ( Zingiber officinale ) prevents severe damage to the lungs due to hyperoxia and inflammation

Background/aim: Hyperoxia- and inflammation-induced lung injury is an important cause of the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in premature infants. We aimed to ascertain the beneficial effects of ginger ( Zingiber officinale ) on rat pups exposed to hyperoxia and inflammation. Materials and methods: Thirty-six newborn Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups as the hyperoxia (95% O 2 ) + lipopolysaccharide (LPS) group, the hyperoxia + LPS + ginger-treated group, and the control/no treatment group (21% O 2 ). Pups in the hyperoxia + LPS + ginger group were administered oral ginger at a dose of 1000 mg/kg daily during the study period. Histopathologic, immunochemical (SMA and lamellar body), and biochemical evaluations including total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1ß), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and caspase-3 activities were performed. Results: Better weight gain and survival rates were shown in the hyperoxia + LPS + ginger group (P < 0.05). In the histopathologic and immunochemical evaluation, severity of lung damage was significantly reduced in the hyperoxia + LPS + ginger group, as well as decreased apoptosis (ELISA for caspase-3) (P < 0.05). Tissue TAS levels were significantly protected, and TOS, MDA, and MPO levels were significantly lower in the hyperoxia + LPS + ginger group (P < 0.05). Tissue TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6 concentrations were significantly decreased in the ginger-treated group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Ginger efficiently reduced the lung damage and protected the lungs from severe damage due to hyperoxia and inflammation. Therefore, ginger may be an alternative option for the treatment of BPD.

Ischemia-Modified Albumin May Be a Novel Marker for Predicting Neonatal Neurologic Injury in Small-For-Gestational-Age Infants in Addition to Neuron-Specific Enolase.

Aim This study aims to evaluate hypoxia/ischemia and oxidant stress, and negative neurodevelopmental outcomes in small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infants. Material and Methods Two study groups were established as SGA and appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) infants. SGA infants were allocated asymmetric and symmetric SGA infants. Serum levels of neuron-specific enolase (NSE), ischemia-modified albumin (IMA), malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and total oxidant status (TOS) were determined and oxidative stress indexes (OSI) were calculated in all groups. Results Overall, 83 infants were diagnosed SGA, and 85 infants were determined AGA. TOS and OSI levels were significantly higher and TAC levels were significantly lower in SGA group (p < 0.05). MDA and IMA levels were significantly higher in SGA group (p < 0.05). NSE levels in SGA infants were significantly higher (p < 0.05). NSE and IMA were significantly higher in symmetric SGA infants (p < 0.05). TOS, OSI, MDA, TAC levels were not significantly different in SGA infants with abnormal neurological findings (p > 0.05); NSE and IMA levels were significantly higher in SGA group with abnormal neurological findings (p < 0.05). Conclusion SGA infants expose to hypoxia and oxidative stress led to neuronal damage. We suggest that in addition to NSE, IMA blood levels might be a sensitive novel marker for predicting the severity of neuronal damage.

Relationship Between Hemodynamically Significant Ductus Arteriosus and Ischemia-Modified Albumin in Premature Infants.

Hemodynamically significant ductus arteriosus (hsPDA) may alter organ perfusion by interfering blood flow to the tissues. Therefore, in infants with hsPDA, hypoxia occurs in many tissues. In this study, we aimed to investigate the diagnostic significance of serum (ischemia-modified albumin) IMA levels as a screening tool for hsPDA, and its relation to the severity of the disease in the preterm neonates. For this purpose, seventy-two premature infants with gestation age <34 weeks were included in the study. Thirty premature infants with hsPDA were assigned as the study group and 42 premature infants without PDA were determined as the control group. Blood samples were collected before the treatment and 24 h after the treatment, and analyzed for IMA levels. IMA levels in the study group (1.26 ± 0.36 ABSU) were found to be significantly higher than control group (0.65 ± 0.12 ABSU) (p < 0.05). In infants with hsPDA, a positive correlation was found between IMA and PDA diameter (ρ = 0.876, p = 0.022), and LA/Ao ratio (ρ = 0.863, p = 0.014). The cut-off value of IMA for hsPDA was measured as 0.78 ABSU with 88.89 % sensitivity, and 90.24 % specificity, 85.71 % positive predictive, 92.5 % negative predictive value [area under the curve (AUC) = 0.96; p < 0.001]. The mean IMA value of the infants with hsPDA before treatment was 1.26 ± 0.36 ABSU, and the mean IMA value of infants after medical treatment was 0.67 ± 0.27 ABSU (p = 0.03). We concluded that IMA can be used as a marker for the diagnosis and monitoring of a successful treatment of hsPDA.

Serum Ischemia-Modified Albumin in Preterm Babies with Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

Infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) may suffer from severe hypoxia, asphyxia. In this study, we aimed to evaluate serum ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) level as a diagnostic marker for hypoxia in preterm infants with RDS. Thirty-seven premature newborns with RDS were allocated as the study group and 42 healthy preterm neonates were selected as the control group. IMA was measured as absorbance unit (ABSU) in human serum with colorimetric assay method which is based on reduction in albumin cobalt binding. IMA levels were significantly higher in neonates with RDS as compared to the control group (P < 0.001). Cut-off value of IMA (ABSU) was 0.72, the sensitivity level was 91.9 %, the specificity was 78.6 %, positive predictive value was 79.1 % and negative predictive value was 91.7 % at RDS. Area under curve values was 0.93 (P < 0.001; 95 % CI, 0.88-0.98) in the receiver operating characteristic curve. We concluded that elevated blood IMA levels might be accepted as a useful marker for hypoxia in newborn with RDS.

TNF-α Blockade Efficiently Reduced Severe Intestinal Damage in Necrotizing Enterocolitis.

OBJECTIVES: To ascertain the beneficial effects of infliximab an inhibitor of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) on the development of NEC in an experimental NEC rat model. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty newborn Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups as NEC, NEC+ infliximab, and control. NEC was induced by enteral formula feeding, exposure to hypoxia-hyperoxia and cold stress. Pups in the NEC+ infliximab group were administered infliximab at a dose of 10 mg/kg daily by intraperitoneal route from the first day until the end of the study. All pups were sacrificed on the 5th day. Proximal colon and ileum were excised for histopathologic, immunohistochemical (TUNEL and caspase-3), and biochemical evaluation, including, total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), malonaldehyde (MDA), and myeloperoxdase (MPO) and TNF-α activities. RESULTS: We observed better clinical sickness scores, weight gain, and survival rate in the NEC+ infliximab group compared to the NEC group (p < .05). Histopathological and apoptosis examination (TUNEL and immunohistochemical evaluation for caspase-3) revealed lower damage in the NEC+ infliximab group compared to the damage in the NEC group (p < .01). Tissue MDA, MPO, TNF-α levels, and TOS were significantly decreased in the NEC+infliximab group, whereas TAS was significantly increased in the NEC + infliximab group (p < .01). CONCLUSION: TNF-α blockade with infliximab efficiently reduced the intestinal injury and preserve the intestinal tissues from severe intestinal damage by its complex mechanisms on NEC. Therefore, it may be an alternative option for the treatment of NEC.

Overhead is superior to underneath light-emitting diode phototherapy in the treatment of neonatal jaundice: a comparative study.

AIM: To compare the efficacy of overhead and underneath light-emitting diode (LED) devices in the treatment of neonatal jaundice. METHODS: We compared two LED phototherapy devices: the neoBLUE device, which provides overhead illumination, and the neoBLUE cozy device, which provides illumination from underneath the infant. The models we used had similar LED sources and provided similar light intensities (30 microW/cm(2)/nm). Infants with hyperbilirubinemia were assigned to one of two groups according to the phototherapy device used (group 1, overhead illumination, 181 infants; group 2, underneath illumination, 61 infants). Recorded variables included birthweight, gender, family history, aetiology of jaundice, total duration of phototherapy and total serum bilirubin (TSB) concentration at the initiation of phototherapy, at 12-hour intervals and just before the cessation of phototherapy. The rates of decrease in TSB concentration were calculated. RESULTS: There were significant differences in the mean duration of phototherapy and in the rate of decrease in TSB concentration between the two groups. The mean duration of phototherapy in group 2 was higher than in group 1 (P= 0.037). The rate of decrease in TSB in group 1 was higher than in group 2 (P= 0.01). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that when phototherapy is used in the treatment of neonatal jaundice, the direction from which the light is applied should be considered in addition to light source intensity.