Genome sequences of five Lactobacillus sp. isolates from traditional Turkish sourdough

A high level of variation in microflora can be observed in profiles of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from sourdoughs. Here, we present draft genome sequences of Lactobacillus reuteri E81, L. reuteri LR5A, L. rhamnosus LR2, L. plantarum PFC-311, and the novel Lactobacillus sp. strain PFC-70, isolated from traditional Turkish backslopped wheat sourdoughs. © 2018 Dertli et al

Verification and Validation of Semantic Annotations

In this paper, we propose a framework to perform verification and validation of semantically annotated data. The annotations, extracted from websites, are verified against the schema.org vocabulary and Domain Specifications to ensure the syntactic correctness and completeness of the annotations. The Domain Specifications allow checking the compliance of annotations against corresponding domain-specific constraints. The validation mechanism will detect errors and inconsistencies between the content of the analyzed schema.org annotations and the content of the web pages where the annotations were found.Comment: Accepted for the A.P. Ershov Informatics Conference 2019(the PSI Conference Series, 12th edition) proceedin

Current clinician perspective on non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant use in challenging clinical cases.

OBJECTIVE: The evolution of non-vitamin K antagonist anticoagulants (NOACs) has changed the horizon of stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation (SPAF). All 4 NOACs have been tested against dose-adjusted warfarin in well-designed, pivotal, phase III, randomized, controlled trials (RCTs) and were approved by regulatory authorities for an SPAF indication. However, as traditional RCTs, these trials have important weaknesses, largely related to their complex structure and patient participation, which was limited by strict inclusion and extensive exclusion criteria. In the real world, however, clinicians are often faced with complex, multimorbid patients who are underrepresented in these RCTs. This article is based on a meeting report authored by 12 scientists studying atrial fibrillation (AF) in diverse ways who discussed the management of challenging AF cases that are underrepresented in pivotal NOAC trials. METHODS: An advisory board panel was convened to confer on management strategies for challenging AF cases. The article is derived from a summary of case presentations and the collaborative discussions at the meeting. CONCLUSION: This expert consensus of cardiologists aimed to define management strategies for challenging cases with patients who underrepresented in pivotal trials using case examples from their routine practice. Although strong evidence is lacking, exploratory subgroup analysis of phase III pivotal trials partially informs the management of these patients. Clinical trials with higher external validity are needed to clarify areas of uncertainty. The lack of clear evidence about complex AF cases has pushed clinicians to manage patients based on clinical experience, including rare situations of off-label prescriptions

Turner syndrome and associated problems in turkish children: A multicenter study

Objective: Turner syndrome (TS) is a chromosomal disorder caused by complete or partial X chromosome monosomy that manifests various clinical features depending on the karyotype and on the genetic background of affected girls. This study aimed to systematically investigate the key clinical features of TS in relationship to karyotype in a large pediatric Turkish patient population. Methods: Our retrospective study included 842 karyotype-proven TS patients aged 0-18 years who were evaluated in 35 different centers in Turkey in the years 2013-2014. Results: The most common karyotype was 45,X (50.7%), followed by 45,X/46,XX (10.8%), 46,X,i(Xq) (10.1%) and 45,X/46,X,i(Xq) (9.5%). Mean age at diagnosis was 10.2±4.4 years. The most common presenting complaints were short stature and delayed puberty. Among patients diagnosed before age one year, the ratio of karyotype 45,X was significantly higher than that of other karyotype groups. Cardiac defects (bicuspid aortic valve, coarctation of the aorta and aortic stenosi) were the most common congenital anomalies, occurring in 25% of the TS cases. This was followed by urinary system anomalies (horseshoe kidney, double collector duct system and renal rotation) detected in 16.3%. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis was found in 11.1% of patients, gastrointestinal abnormalities in 8.9%, ear nose and throat problems in 22.6%, dermatologic problems in 21.8% and osteoporosis in 15.3%. Learning difficulties and/or psychosocial problems were encountered in 39.1%. Insulin resistance and impaired fasting glucose were detected in 3.4% and 2.2%, respectively. Dyslipidemia prevalence was 11.4%. Conclusion: This comprehensive study systematically evaluated the largest group of karyotype-proven TS girls to date. The karyotype distribution, congenital anomaly and comorbidity profile closely parallel that from other countries and support the need for close medical surveillance of these complex patients throughout their lifespan. © Journal of Clinical Research in Pediatric Endocrinology

Exponential Type Complex and non-Hermitian Potentials in PT-Symmetric Quantum Mechanics

Using the NU method [A.F.Nikiforov, V.B.Uvarov, Special Functions of Mathematical Physics, Birkhauser,Basel,1988], we investigated the real eigenvalues of the complex and/or $PT$- symmetric, non-Hermitian and the exponential type systems, such as Poschl-Teller and Morse potentials.Comment: 14 pages, Late

Warm Water Strawberry Disease (WWSD) Outbreak in Cultured Rainbow Trout

This study reports the first observation of warm-water strawberry disease in market-sized rainbow trout when the water temperature is above 15°C between April and September for 2 years in Turkey. Diseased fish with hemorrhagic inflammatory skin lesions were obtained from 4 different rainbow trout farms located in Muğla, Aegean Region of Turkey where the outbreak occurred. Microbiological, molecular, and histopathological analyze and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) examinations were performed to determine the causative agent of the disease, but no particular microbial growth and positive nested PCR results were obtained from the samples. In contrast, a rod-shaped coccoid bacterium was observed in SEM views of inflammatory skin samples. Intense lymphocytic infiltration was determined in both the epidermis and the dermis by histopathological examination. The etiology of this skin disease is still uncertain; however, the disease continues to spread in the region where most of the rainbow trout production occurs with economic loss in relation to inevaluable market size fish. It is important to observe the effects of the disease to prevent spread between farms and determine appropriate protection and control strategies

A paradox from a neurotransmitter: the opposite effects of substance P and its physiological fragments SP (1-7) and SP (9-11) on the proliferation of human breast cancer cells and the migration capabilities of HUVEC cells

OBJECTIVE: Substance P (SP) is a neurotransmitter peptide, and it is known to play a major role in neurogenic inflammation, inducing local inflammatory responses, cancer, and angiogenesis. It has been previously demonstrated that SP possesses a wide range of pharmacological effects including induced cancer cell proliferation and triggered angiogenic response of tumors. However, there is no published work regarding the proliferative effects of its physiological fragments [N-terminal fragment SP (1-7) and C-terminal fragment SP (9-11)] not only on cancer cells but also on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cells were treated with different doses of fragments and the cytotoxic effects on the proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cells were determined via MTT kit (Promega, Madison, WI, USA) and Cellular DNA Fragmentation Elisa Kit (Roche). Changes both in the pro-angiogenic and anti-angiogenic factor levels in media were evaluated by; Human VEGF ELISA kit (Thermo-Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA), Human Matrix Metallo-proteinases-9 Elisa kit (Legend Max), and Human Thrombospondin-1 Elisa kit (R&D Systems) for VEGF, MMP-9, and Thrombospondin-1 respectively. To determine the changes in the migration capabilities of HUVECs, a wound healing test was performed. RESULTS: According to our results, the fragments exhibit different effects not only on the proliferation of cancer cells and the release of pro/anti-angiogenic factors from the cells but also on the migration capabilities of HUVECs. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report showing that the SP fragments could behave differently from the main peptide itself

Investigating the Relationship Between Water Element Designs and User Preferences

Water elements are design features that complement the environmental landscape with their natural and artificial appearance, particularly in urban spaces. They are effective in boosting the quality of urban space by supporting perceived and real comfort in the area where they are found. In this study, a face-to-face interview photographic survey was conducted with 500 people chosen randomly in five different city squares in Istanbul, whereas participants were asked why they preferred particular water element forms, such as; (natural / geometric form, still / moving form, light / dark colored ground, angular / curvilinear form, natural / colored light). According to the results of the survey conducted, answers provided were grouped under the headings of ‘no reason,’ ‘physical feature,’ ‘psychological effect,’ ‘aesthetic appearance,’ ‘nature conservation,’ ‘modern’ and ‘cleaning.’ As a result of the research, it was observed that water elements with natural forms were preferred over those with geometric forms, water elements with light colored floors were preferred over those with dark floors, and water elements illuminated with natural light were preferred over those illuminated with colored light. While physical appearance, psychological effect and aesthetic features of the water elements are the primary factors in the preference of the water element, it was determined that definitions such as cleanliness, nature conservation and modern appearance are not as influential compared to other selection factors © 2022, Street Art and Urban Creativity.All Rights Reserved

Macromolecular background signal and non-Gaussian metabolite diffusion determined in human brain using ultra-high diffusion weighting.

PURPOSE Definition of a macromolecular MR spectrum based on diffusion properties rather than relaxation time differences and characterization of non-Gaussian diffusion of brain metabolites with strongly diffusion-weighted MR spectroscopy. METHODS Short echo time MRS with strong diffusion-weighting with b-values up to 25 ms/μm2 at two diffusion times was implemented on a Connectom system and applied in combination with simultaneous spectral and diffusion decay modeling. Motion-compensation was performed with a combined method based on the simultaneously acquired water and a macromolecular signal. RESULTS The motion compensation scheme prevented spurious signal decay reflected in very small apparent diffusion constants for macromolecular signal. Macromolecular background signal patterns were determined using multiple fit strategies. Signal decay corresponding to non-Gaussian metabolite diffusion was represented by biexponential fit models yielding parameter estimates for human gray matter that are in line with published rodent data. The optimal fit strategies used constraints for the signal decay of metabolites with limited signal contributions to the overall spectrum. CONCLUSION The determined macromolecular spectrum based on diffusion properties deviates from the conventional one derived from longitudinal relaxation time differences calling for further investigation before use as experimental basis spectrum when fitting clinical MR spectra. The biexponential characterization of metabolite signal decay is the basis for investigations into pathologic alterations of microstructure

Non-relativistic ten-dimensional minimal supergravity

We construct a non-relativistic limit of ten-dimensional N=1 supergravity from the point of view of the symmetries, the action, and the equations of motion. This limit can only be realized in a supersymmetric way provided we impose by hand a set of geometric constraints, invariant under all the symmetries of the non-relativistic theory, that define a so-called `self-dual' Dilatation-invariant String Newton-Cartan geometry. The non-relativistic action exhibits three emerging symmetries: one local scale symmetry and two local conformal supersymmetries. Due to these emerging symmetries the Poisson equation for the Newton potential and two partner fermionic equations do not follow from a variation of the non-relativistic action but, instead, are obtained by a supersymmetry variation of the other equations of motion that do follow from a variation of the non-relativistic action. We shortly discuss the inclusion of the Yang-Mills sector that would lead to a non-relativistic heterotic supergravity action.Comment: 40 pages, minor change