Development of the Critically Ill Patient Eye Assessment Scale: A study of validity and reliability.

BACKGROUND: Eye care and assessment of the eye are critical for intensive care patients to prevent ocular complications like dry eye and corneal abrasion. However, there is no measurement tool developed for intensive care patients that examines the risks of ocular complications. AIMS: This study aimed to develop a valid and reliable tool, the Critically Ill Patient Eye Assessment Scale (CIPEAS), for assessing the risk of ocular complications and determining the frequency of eye care. STUDY DESIGN: This study is an instrument development study. This methodological study was conducted with 151 intensive care patients in Turkey between March 2022 and March 2023. Data were collected with the Patient Information Form and the CIPEAS. The data were evaluated using SPSS 23 statistical software. AMOS 21 was used to verify the structure obtained with CFA. Exploration and confirmatory factor analyses were performed to determine the scale's factorial structure. RESULTS: As a result of exploratory factor analysis, a six-item scale consisting of a single dimension was obtained, explaining 59.993% of the total variance. The fit indices of the scale were found to be χ2/SD = 2.653, GFI = 0.954, RMSEA = 0.075, NFI = 0.949 and CFI = 0.967. Cronbach's alpha of the scale was found to be 0.862. CONCLUSION: The CIPEAS was found to be a valid and reliable assessment tool. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The Critically Ill Patient Eye Assessment Scale is a valid and reliable tool for Turkish society for assessing the risk of ocular complications. It is recommended for various national and international studies with different patients in intensive care units.

Modified Au:Fe-Ni magnetic micromotors improve drug delivery and diagnosis in MCF-7 cells and spheroids.

Nano/micromotors hold immense potential for revolutionizing drug delivery and detection systems, especially in the realm of cancer diagnosis and treatment, owing to their distinctive features, including precise propulsion, maneuverability, and meticulously designed surface modifications. In this study, we explore the capabilities of modified and magnetically driven micromotors as active drug delivery systems within 2D and 3D cell culture environments and cancer diagnosis. We synthesized gold (Au) and iron-nickel (Fe-Ni) metallic-based magnetic micromotors (Au:Fe-Ni MMs) through electrochemical methods, equipping them with functionalities for controlled doxorubicin (DOX) release and cancer cell recognition. In 2D and spheroids of MCF-7 adenocarcinoma cells, the Au segment of these micromotors was utilized to help DOX loading through poly(sodium-4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) functionalization, and the attachment of antiHER2 antibodies for specific recognition. This innovative approach enabled controlled drug release within the cancerous microenvironment, coupled with magnetic (Fe-Ni) propulsion for biocompatible drug delivery to MCF-7 cells. Furthermore, antiHER2 immobilized Au:Fe-Ni MMs effectively interacted with receptors, capitalizing on the overexpression of HER2 antigens on MCF-7 cells. Encouraging outcomes were observed, particularly in spheroid models, underscoring the remarkable potential of these multifunctional micromotors for advancing intelligent drug delivery methodologies and diagnostic purposes.

Determining the prevalence of people's knowledge that third-hand smoke is harmful to health: A meta-analysis study.

INTRODUCTION: Although the health effects of first-hand smoke and second-hand smoke are well known, third-hand smoke (THS) is a relatively new concept. We estimated the prevalence of people's knowledge that THS is harmful to health, including for some subgroups, in a meta-analysis. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, EBSCO Host, ProQuest, and YOKTEZ databases for the prevalence of people's knowledge that THS is harmful to health using specified search words. A total of 12 publications (n = 8549 people) were included in the meta-analysis. The random effect model was used for meta-analysis, and Cochran's Q test and I2 values were used to determine heterogeneity. Subgroup analyzes and meta-regression were also performed. RESULTS: The prevalence of people's knowledge that THS is harmful was 80.1%. The prevalence of people's knowledge that THS is harmful for children was 82%, and the prevalence of people's knowledge that THS is harmful for adults was 70.4%. For health professionals, the prevalence of people's knowledge that THS is harmful for children was 89.8%, the highest prevalence value calculated in this meta-analysis. Cochran's Q test and I2 values indicated that the included studies were heterogeneous. CONCLUSIONS: In this meta-analysis, the overall prevalence of people's knowledge that THS is harmful was 80.1%, but large variations were found between samples.

Evaluation of submandibular and parotid salivary glands by ultrasonography in patients with diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Microvascular complications of diabetes mellitus (DM) include oral manifestations and complications, including xerostomia, reduced salivary flow, susceptibility to infection, periodontal disease and salivary gland enlargement. OBJECTIVE: The present study aims to evaluate B-mode ultrasonography (USG) parameters such as size, volume and echogenicity of the submandibular and parotid salivary glands on both sides, shear-wave elastography (SWE) value and colour Doppler properties in patients with DM and healthy control groups. METHODS: In total, 160 right and left submandibular glands and 160 right and left parotid glands of 80 patients, 40 patients (20 type 1 DM, 20 type 2 DM) and 40 healthy control group, between the ages of 18-70 were examined by USG. Echogenicity, parenchyma internal structure, margin and dimensional measurements (antero-posterior length, supero-inferior length, medio-lateral length and volume) and colour Doppler with 'ML 6-15-D Matrix Array (4-15 MHz)' probe, shear-wave elastography '9L-D (2-8 MHz)' probe was investigated. RESULT: Statistically significant difference was observed in echogenicity in the right submandibular gland, echogenicity in the right parotid gland, margin characteristics, parenchymal homogeneity and colour Doppler characteristics between the type 1 DM, type 2 DM and control groups (p < .05). It was observed that the size, volume and SWE values of both submandibular and parotid glands were higher in the DM patient group than in the control group. Higher values were observed in type 2 DM compared to type 1 DM in the patient group. CONCLUSION: USG is an effective imaging technique in investigating the effects of diabetes on the submandibular and parotid salivary glands.

Effects of melatonin, proline, and salicylic acid on seedling growth, photosynthetic activity, and leaf nutrients of sorghum under salt stress.

Soil salinization poses a significant challenge to the sustainability and productivity of agriculture worldwide. This issue continues to hinder plant growth, requiring innovative solutions to alleviate salt stress. Moreover, climate change accelerates soil salinization, which may soon spread to previously unaffected agricultural areas. Therefore, the present study evaluated the potential role of different seed priming agents (hydro (H), salicylic acid (SA), proline (P), and melatonin (MEL)) on seedlings and leaf macro and micronutrients of sorghum grown under four (.27, 2.5, 5.0, and 8.0 dS m-1) soil salinity conditions. Soil salinity drastically reduced all the growth parameters of sorghum seedlings, primarily the reduction in growth traits, which was remarkable after 2.5 dS m-1 soil salinity. In addition, plant height, shoot fresh weight, and stomata were reduced by 40.8%, 74.6%, and 36.5%, respectively, at 8.0 dS m-1 compared to .27 dS m-1. SA- and MEL-primed seeds mitigated the harmful effects of soil salinity by reducing Na+ accumulation in the leaves and increasing the K+/Na+ and Ca2+/Na+ ratios and photosynthetic activity under salt stress. However, the Zn2+, Mn2+, and Cu2+ contents of sorghum leaves increased with increasing soil salinity, and these nutrients also improved with seed priming by SA, MEL, and P. Considering all nutrients, MEL-primed sorghum seeds had better macro- and micro-nutrient uptake capacities than the H, SA, and P treatments under high soil salinity conditions. Finally, the present study showed that MEL-induced improvement in salt tolerance in sorghum seedlings was related to enhanced nutritional status, photosynthetic activity, and biomass production in salinized areas.

Evaluation of Bone Mineral Changes in Panoramic Radiographs of Hypothyroid and Hyperthyroid Patients Using Fractal Dimension Analysis.

Objective Hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism are endocrinopathies that cause a decrease in bone mineral density. The aim of this study is to investigate possible bone changes in the mandible caused by hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism using fractal analysis (FA) on panoramic radiographs. Material and Methods Panoramic radiographs of a total of 180 patients, including 120 patient groups (60 hyperthyroid, 60 hypothyroid) and 60 healthy control groups, were used. Five regions of interests (ROI) were determined from panoramic radiographs and FA was performed. ROI1: geometric midpoint of mandibular notch and mandibular foramen, ROI2: geometric midpoint of mandibular angle, ROI3: anterior of mental foramen, ROI4: basal cortical area from distal mental foramen to distal root of first molar, ROI5: geometric center of mandibular foramen and mandibular ramus. Results While a significant difference was observed between the patient and control groups regarding ROI1 and ROI2 (p < 0.05); there was no significant difference between the groups in relation to ROI3, ROI4, and ROI5. All FA values were lower in the hyperthyroid group than in the hypothyroid group. Conclusion Fractal analysis proves to be an effective method for early detection of bone mass changes. In the present study, it was concluded that while the mandibular cortical bone was intact, trabecular rich regions were affected by osteoporosis caused by thyroid hormones. Necessary precautions should be taken against the risk of osteoporosis in patients with thyroid hormone disorders.

Turkish Validation of the Rapid Interactive Screening Test for Autism in Toddlers.

LAY ABSTRACT: It is important to diagnose autism spectrum disorder at an early age and to start an early intervention program without delay. In this study, we aimed to validate the Rapid Interactive Screening Test for Autism in Toddlers (RITA-T) in a group of Turkish children and found that the RITA-T which has been shown to be a valid and reliable screening test for 18- to 36-month-old children in studies conducted in different countries, is also valid in Turkish children. Similar to previous studies, our results showed that the RITA-T has good sensitivity and specificity in distinguishing children with autism spectrum disorder. We think that our study will contribute to the timely initiation of early intervention programs for many children with autism by enabling a valid test to be used in screening programs.

Push and Pull Factors of Why Medical Students Want to Leave Türkiye: A Countrywide Multicenter Study.

Phenomenon: Physician immigration from other countries is increasing as developed countries continue to be desirable destinations for physicians; however, the determinants of Turkish physicians' migration decisions are still unclear. Despite its wide coverage in the media and among physicians in Türkiye, and being the subject of much debate, there is insufficient data to justify this attention. With this study, we aimed to investigate the tendency of senior medical students in Türkiye to pursue their professional careers abroad and its related factors. Approach: This cross-sectional study involved 9881 senior medical students from 39 different medical schools in Türkiye in 2022. Besides participants' migration decision, we evaluated the push and pull factors related to working, social environment and lifestyle in Türkiye and abroad, medical school education inadequacy, and personal insufficiencies, as well as the socioeconomic variables that may affect the decision to migrate abroad. The analyses were carried out with a participation rate of at least 50%. Findings: Of the medical students, 70.7% had emigration intentions. Approximately 60% of those want to stay abroad permanently, and 61.5% of them took initiatives such as learning a foreign language abroad (54.5%) and taking relevant exams (18.9%). Those who wanted to work in the field of Research & Development were 1.37 (95% CI: 1.22-1.54) times more likely to emigrate. The push factor that was related to emigration intention was the "working conditions in the country" (OR: 1.89, 95% CI: 1.56-2.28) whereas the "social environment/lifestyle abroad" was the mere pull factor for the tendency of emigration (OR: 1.73, 95% CI: 1.45-2.06). In addition, the quality problem in medical schools also had a significant impact on students' decisions (OR: 2.20, 95% CI: 1.83-2.65). Insights: Although the percentage of those who want to emigrate "definitely" was at the same level as in the other developing countries, the tendency to migrate "permanently" was higher in Türkiye. Improving working conditions in the country and increasing the quality of medical faculties seem vital in preventing the migration of physicians.

Celebrating Nursing Week during the COVID-19 pandemic: The example of Twitter in Turkey for 2020-2021.

AIM: To explore how the nursing profession reflected on Twitter in Turkey about the Nursing Week celebration during the COVID-19 pandemic. BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic affected the whole world, made every aspect of life extremely difficult, and required excessive involvement by healthcare professionals-especially nurses. Nurses have played a key role in meeting the care needs of people during this time. METHODS: A qualitative research design was used for this study. Turkish social media data were analysed via a data crawler on Twitter. Tweets regarding the COVID-19 pandemic during 12-18 May 2020 and 12-18 May 2021-dates celebrated as Nursing Week in Turkey-and tweets containing at least one of the following relevant hashtags: #nurse, #nursesday, #nursesweek, #nursingweek, #12May, or #12Maynursesday, were considered. RESULTS: The hashtag #12May was used the most in both years, and the most tweets were posted with the hashtag #12May (n = 2996) in 2020. Three categories, 'Being a nurse in the pandemic', 'Nursing Week with celebrations', and 'Nursing Week with definitions', were identified through a thematic analysis. The categories included the importance of nursing, respectability, difficult working conditions, insufficiency in the number of nurses, difficulties in social life, etc. DISCUSSION: Turkish society posted tweets to celebrate Nursing Week. In addition to the celebration, there were many statements revealing the positive aspects of nurses and the nursing profession, as well as the difficulties nurses faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. CONCLUSION: Our findings revealed that in the celebrations of Nursing Week in Turkey, the important role of nursing in the health system, difficulties experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, and definitions describing the roles of nursing were reflected on Twitter. IMPLICATION FOR NURSING AND HEALTH POLICIES: This presents a source for perspective on the opinions reflected on social media about nurses and the nursing profession via Nursing Week celebrations during the pandemic. The findings can guide the development of policies on the rights and social privileges of the nursing profession that need to be improved in exceptional situations like a pandemic.

Internet Use, eHealth Literacy, and Influencing Factors in Turkish Cancer Patients: A Descriptive and Correlational Study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the Internet use, eHealth literacy levels, and influencing factors in Turkish cancer patients. DATA SOURCES: A descriptive and correlational study was conducted in a single cancer center with 296 patients. Data were collected using a personal information form, an Internet Usage Form, and the eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS). The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the Mann‒Whitney U test, Kruskal‒Wallis test, and multiple linear regression analysis. CONCLUSION: The participants received health-related information from the Internet (36.8%) with a mean total eHEALS score of 22.92 ± 9.67. In the multiple linear regression analysis, the descriptive characteristics of the participants were negatively affected by age (ß = -0.143) and education level (ß = 0.204). The use of the Internet to obtain information about cancer (ß = 0.455) positively affected the level of eHealth literacy. The eHealth literacy of patients is at a level that needs to be improved and there are factors affecting it. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Nurses should increase patients' eHealth literacy and guide them on how to access accurate information about cancer on the Internet. While doing this, it should be planned to consider the age, education level, and Internet use of the patients.

Accurate estimation of sorghum crop water content under different water stress levels using machine learning and hyperspectral data.

This study investigates the effects of different water stress levels on spectral information, leaf area index (LAI), and the performance of three machine learning (ML) algorithms in estimating crop water content (CWC) of sorghum. The results show that the spectral reflectance of sorghum varies with growth stage and irrigation treatment, but consistent patterns are observed for each treatment. The LAI of sorghum gradually increased throughout the growth stages, with the most significant variation observed during the flowering stage. In this study, three machine learning-based regression models, namely, extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), random forest (RF), and support vector machine (SVM), were utilized to estimate sorghum CWC using hyperspectral measurements. Recursive feature elimination (RFE) method was used to select the optimal spectral reflectance wavelengths for the ML models, and principal component analysis (PCA) was used to reduce the dimensionality of the hyperspectral data. The results indicated that the RF model achieved the highest R2 (0.90) and lowest of RMSE (56.05) value using selected wavelengths, while the XGBoost model demonstrated superior accuracy and reliability in estimating CWC using dimensionality-reduced hyperspectral data (r = 0.96, RMSE = 45.77). Also, the study highlights the importance of vegetation index (VI) in CWC estimate. Some VIs, such as NDVI and MSAVI, performed poorly, while others, such as CL_Rededge and EVI, performed better. The study provides valuable insights into the effects of water stress levels on spectral information, LAI, and the performance of ML algorithms in estimating the CWC of sorghum. The findings have significant implications for precision agriculture, as accurate and reliable estimates of CWC can help farmers optimize irrigation and fertilizer applications, leading to improved crop yields and resource efficiency.

Radiologic Evaluation of the Fossa Navicularis on Dry Skull: A Comparative CBCT Study.

Fossa navicularis (FN) is defined as bony depression that is not always present and is located anterior to the foramen magnum and pharyngeal tubercle on the inferior aspect of the basilar part of the occipital bone. It has been reported that FN can create an infection spread path from the pharynx to the intracranial structures. Therefore, the diagnosis of this variation is important. Although cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) diagnostic accuracy has mostly been verified in detection and quantification particularly on human skulls, there is no study comparing morphometric measurements between direct measurement on the skull and CBCT measurement. The main object of this study is to evaluate the presence of FN on dry bones and CBCT images of the same dry skull and to examine the morphometric and morphological features of this formation. Thirty-two random craniums that were made available for this study that did not have any fractures or deformities of the cranial base were examined. The sagittal diameter, transverse diameter, and depth of the FN was measured both directly on dry skulls and radiologically on CBCT images of dry skull. In addition, the shape of FN (SFN) was determined. FN was detected in 10 (31.25%) of 32 craniums examined with both modalities. It was determined that sagittal diameter of the FN, transverse diameter of the FN, depth of the FN, and the shape of FN did not show a statistically significant difference between the 2 measurements. Unlike the literature, FN was investigated on dry bones both directly and in CBCT images in this study. In contrast to previously thought the FN may be smaller according to this findings, and this small variation can be detected with CBCT images. According to this findings, it can be said that morphometric evaluations on CBCT are accurate and reliable, and CBCT is a safe method for clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Ultrasonographic evaluation of the effect of splint therapy on masseter muscle and blood flow in patients with bruxism.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of splint therapy on masseter muscle and blood flow in patients with bruxism using ultrasonography (USG). METHODS: Twenty female patients with bruxism receiving splint treatment were studied. Masseter thickness and elasticity were assessed using gray-scale USG and shear-wave elastography (kPa) at rest and maximum clenching. Blood flow parameters of external carotid artery (ECA), maxillary, facial, mental artery were examined using Doppler USG before and after splint application. RESULTS: Thickness and elasticity of masseter muscle was statistically significantly decreased at rest after splint therapy (p < 0.05). Significant difference was determined only in some parameters of ECA and maxillary artery in Doppler USG before and after splint (p < 0.05); there was no difference for facial and mental artery (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Thickness and elasticity of masseter muscle were significantly decreased after splint therapy. USG can measure muscle activity and blood flow in bruxism patients.

Development and psychometric evaluation of the nursing students' attitude towards e-learning scale.

BACKGROUND: E-learning is a relatively recent and rapidly expanding trend of nursing education that increased particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, assessing the attitudes of nursing students towards e-learning with standardized tools has gained importance. AIM: To determine the validity and reliability of nursing students' attitudes towards e-learning (NSA-E-learning) scale. METHOD: This methodological study was performed from 1 July to 15 August 2021 with 404 nursing students in Turkey. The item pool of the scale was created based on the relevant literature. The data were evaluated using descriptive statistics, explanatory and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), Pearson correlation analysis, t-test for dependent variables and Cronbach alpha coefficient. RESULTS: The content validity index of this scale calculated according to experts' opinions ranged from 0.87 to 1.00. According to the exploratory factor analysis, 4 factors had an eigenvalue > 1. These 4 factors accounted for 69.66 % of the total variance. CFA showed favorable results for Chi square/degrees of freedom (χ2/df), comparative fit index (CFI) and root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA). The Cronbach alpha of the scale was 0.96 and the Cronbach alpha coefficient of the sub-dimensions ranged from 0.82 to 0.94. The NSA-E-learning scale had moderate test-retest reliability. CONCLUSION: The 29-item NSA-E-learning scale was a valid and reliable tool for assessing the attitude of the nursing students towards e-learning.

Clinical and Laboratory Factors Affecting the Prognosis of Severe Combined Immunodeficiency.

PURPOSE: Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) is one of the most severe forms of inborn errors of immunity characterized by absence or loss of function in T cells. The long-term outcomes of all forms of SCID have been evaluated in a limited number of studies. We aimed to evaluate the pre- and post-transplant manifestations of SCID patients and determine the factors affecting the survival of patients. METHODS: We included 54 SCID patients (classical SCID, Omenn syndrome, atypical SCID (AS)) in this study. We evaluated the clinical presentation, infections, and outcome of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Lymphocyte subsets and T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoire were analyzed by flow cytometry. RESULTS: The median age at diagnosis was 5 (range: 3-24) months and follow-up time was 25 (range: 5-61) months. Symptom onset and diagnostic ages were significantly higher in AS compared to others (p = 0.001; p < 0.001). The most common SCID phenotype was T-B-NK + , and mutations in recombination-activating genes (RAG1/2) were the prominent genetic defect among patients. The overall survival (OS) rate was 83.3% after HSCT, higher than in non-transplanted patients (p = 0.001). Peripheral blood stem cell sources and genotypes other than RAG had a significant favorable impact on CD4+ T cells immune reconstitution after transplantation (p = 0.044, p = 0.035; respectively). Gender matching transplantations from human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-identical and non-identical donors and using peripheral blood stem cell source yielded higher B-cell reconstitution (p = 0.002, p = 0.028; respectively). Furthermore, receiving a conditioning regimen provided better B-cell reconstitution and chimerism (p = 0.003, p = 0.001). Post-transplant TCR diversity was sufficient in the patients and showed an equal distribution pattern as healthy controls. The OS rate was lower in patients who underwent transplant with active infection or received stem cells from mismatched donors (p = 0.030, p = 0.015; respectively). CONCLUSION: This study identifies diagnostic and therapeutic approaches predictive of favorable outcomes for patients with SCID.

Foetal umbilical cord brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in pregnancy with gestational diabetes mellitus.

The aim of our study was to investigate whether gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) affects brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in foetal umbilical cord blood. A total of 96 participants were divided into a GDM group (n = 43) and a non-diabetic control group (n = 53). Cord blood samples of approximately 5 cc were taken immediately after the foetal umbilical cord was clamped during delivery in order to determine BDNF levels. While the mean age, body mass index, birth weight, rate of caesarean delivery, rate of infant macrosomia, and neonatal intensive care unit admission of women with GDM were significantly higher compared to the non-diabetic control group (p < .05), pregnancy complications were comparable between the groups (p > .05). Although no significant differences were noted between the groups with respect to cord blood BDNF levels (0.79 ± 0.37 ng/ml vs. 0.69 ± 017 ng/ml, p = .122), cord blood BDNF values were higher in female infants compared to male infants (0.85 ± 0.33 ng/ml vs. 0.66 ± 0.23 ng/ml, p = .001) and in patients using insulin compared to those not using insulin in the GDM group (0.78 ± 0.14 ng/ml vs. 0.62 ± 0.09 ng/ml, p < .001). This study found that GDM has no effect on cord blood BDNF levels. More in-depth studies with larger series are needed to validate the results of the present study.Impact statementWhat is already known on this subject? Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) negatively affects the foetal neurodevelopment due to inflammation and oxidative stress caused by hyperglycaemia. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression has been shown to modulate oxidative stress and inflammation, and there may be a relationship between varying BDNF concentrations and GDM.What do the results of this study add? Our study showed that no significant differences were noted between the groups with respect to cord blood BDNF levels, cord blood BDNF values were higher in female infants compared to male infants, and in patients using insulin compared to those not using insulin in the GDM group.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? GDM negatively affects the foetal neurodevelopment due to inflammation and oxidative stress caused by hyperglycaemia. BDNF expression has also been shown to modulate oxidative stress and inflammation, and there may be a relationship between varying BDNF concentrations and GDM. The association between BDNF expression and GDM has not been clearly elucidated in the literature. More in-depth studies with larger series are needed to determine this relationship.

The Influence of Nutritional Status and Sleep Quality on Gustatory Function in Older Adults.

Background and Objectives: Age-related declines in taste function are common. Taste acuity can be affected by nutritional status and sleep quality. This research aims to examine the effect of nutritional status and sleep quality on gustatory function in community-dwelling older adults. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 119 community-dwelling older adults (50.4% of whom were female). The gustatory function was evaluated using four liquid taste solutions (sweet, bitter, sour, and salty) each at four different concentrations and the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was applied. Additionally, anthropometric measurements were taken. Results: The mean scores on the gustatory test for the sweet, bitter, sour, and salty tastes were 2.11 ± 1.27, 2.12 ± 1.03, 2.28 ± 1.03, and 1.98 ± 1.41, respectively. There were significant differences according to gender, polypharmacy, nutritional status, and sleep quality in identifying sweet tastes (all p < 0.05). It was also found that females and participants without polypharmacy had better scores for bitter tastes. When the gustatory functions were evaluated according to BMI classification, it was determined that underweight participants had a higher sour taste score than the obese ones. Multiple regression analysis revealed that age, MNA score, PSQI score, and gender accounted for a total of 20.4% of the variance in the sweet taste score. Conclusions: Determining the relationship between taste function, nutritional status, and sleep quality in older adults is important in terms of developing new strategies for older adults who have these problems.

Modeling of PM10 emissions from motor vehicles at signalized intersections and cumulative model validation.

Motor vehicle emissions especially occur at signalized intersections during idling, acceleration, and deceleration phases. The reduction of exhaust emissions from motor vehicles is on the focus of environmental studies. The main targets of this paper are the modeling of motor vehicle particulate matter (PM10) emissions by American Meteorological Society/Environmental Protection Agency Regulatory Model (AERMOD) and California Line Source for Queuing and Hot Spot Calculations (CAL3QHCR) models and investigating the effectiveness of a hypothetical green wave scenario as a pollution reduction strategy. The portion of D010 State Road in Zonguldak (Turkey) is selected. Vehicle counting is applied for determining the traffic volume. Then, the PM10 emission inventory is prepared. After that, PM10 pollution distribution maps at signalized intersections are created by running air quality models. Next, the CAL3QHCR model is run again for the green wave scenario which assumes free flow at signalized intersections. The maximum PM10 concentrations predicted by AERMOD and CAL3QHCR models are 16.8 µg/m3 and 14.9 µg/m3, respectively. Although these values are below the threshold value, it can be said that air quality may pose a threat to public health in the existence of other sources. With the implementation of signal optimization, the PM10 pollution is reduced by 10-50% at intersections. Cumulative model validation is employed including other PM10 sources in the study area. PM10 contribution of other sources at Zonguldak air quality monitoring station is determined by the AERMOD model. Finally, the sum of model outputs is validated against measured concentrations. According to the validation, both models are found as satisfactory and AERMOD performed better than CAL3QHCR.

Threat in water for drinking and domestic use: Nontuberculous mycobacteria.

Objective: Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) have been recognized as a diverse group of organisms that are ubiquitous in environmental sources. In most regions of the world, NTM are not reportable as a public health disease, so epidemiological data are not easily available. However, data in published studies note increasing trends at the rate of NTM isolation from different geographic regions of the world. Increasing NTM isolation may have important public health implications. The aim of our study is the investigation of NTM from water resources and networks in Düzce, Turkey. Methods: NTM are common in water resources and water networks. They can cause waterborne infections in humans. A total of 120 water samples measured of chlorine and pH levels were decontaminated and filtered. Then, the filters were placed in the culturing media. Statistical Analysis Used: Chi-square and t-test were used for the statistical analysis. Results: NTM were detected in 20 (16.6%) samples. Nine of them (45%) were Mycobacterium fortuitum, three (15%) were Mycobacterium gordonae, three (15%) were Mycobacterium szulgai, two (10%) were Mycobacterium lentiflavum, two (10%) were Mycobacterium chelonae, and one (5%) was Mycobacterium peregrinum. Conclusions: These environmental bacteria can cause serious illnesses in both immunocompetent and especially immunocompromised individuals. For the correct treatment of these patients, it is important to determine NTM in clinical samples. Surveillance is necessary to know the source of NTM infection, to identify and type the strains, and to establish effective control measures such as disinfection, maintenance, and modernization of water systems.