A hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis case with newly defined UNC13D (C.175G>C; p.Ala59Pro) mutation and a rare complication

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) represents a severe hyperinflammatory condition with cardinal symptoms of prolonged fever, cytopenias, hepatosplenomegaly, and hemophagocytosis by activated, morphologically benign macrophages with impaired function of natural killer cells and cytotoxic T lymphocytes. A 2-month-old girl, who was admitted with fever, was diagnosed with HLH and her genetic examination revealed a newly defined mutation in the UNC13D (c.175G>C; p.Ala59Pro) gene. She was treated with dexamethasone, etoposide, and intrathecal methotrexate. During the second week of treatment, after three doses of etoposide, it was noticed that there was a necrotic plaque lesion on the soft palate. Pathologic examination of debrided material in PAS and Grocott staining revealed lots of septated hyphae, which was consistent with aspergillosis infection. Etoposide was stopped and amphotericin B treatment was given for six weeks. HLH 2004 protocol was completed to eight weeks with cyclosporine A orally. There was no patient with invasive aspergillosis infection as severe as causing palate and nasal septum perforation during HLH therapy. In immuncompromised patients, fungal infections may cause nasal septum perforation and treatment could be achieved by antifungal therapy and debridement of necrotic tissue. © 2015 Turkish Society of Hematology. All rights reserved

The once and future information society

In the late twentieth century, many social scientists and other social commentators came to characterize the world as evolving into an “information society.” Central to these claims was the notion that new social uses of information, and particularly application of scientific knowledge, are transforming social life in fundamental ways. Among the supposed transformations are the rise of intellectuals in social importance, growing productivity and prosperity stemming from increasingly knowledge-based economic activity, and replacement of political conflict by authoritative, knowledge-based decision-making. We trace these ideas to their origins in the Enlightenment doctrines of Saint Simon and Comte, show that empirical support for them has never been strong, and consider the durability of their social appeal

Administrators in higher education: organizational expansion in a transforming institution

Recent European research has revealed growth in the number of administrators and professionals across different sections of universities—a long established trend in US universities. We build on this research by investigating the factors associated with variation in the proportion of administrators across 761 Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in 11 European countries. We argue that the enactment of expanded and diversified missions of HE is one of the main factors nurturing universities’ profesional and administrative bodies. Our findings support such an assertion; regardless of geographical and institutional differences, HEIs with high levels of “entrepreneurialism” (e.g. in service provision and external engagement) are characterized by a larger proportion of administrative staff. However, we find no empirical support for arguments citing structural pressures and demands on HEIs due to higher student enrolments, budget cuts or deregulation as engines driving such change. Instead, our results point towards, as argued by neo-institutionalists, the diffusion of formal organization as a model of institutional identity and purpose, which is especially prevalent at high levels of external connectedness

Influence of Plastic Deformation and Hydroxyapatite Coating on Structure, Mechanical, Corrosion, Antibacterial and Cell Viability Properties of Zinc Based Biodegradable Alloys

Zinc (Zn)-based biodegradable alloys have been at the forefront of absorbable biomaterial research in recent years due to their high biocompatibility and corrosion rates. The arc melting process was used to produce the Zn–1Cu–1Ag biodegradable alloy. The infuence of diferent plastic deformation rates on the microstructure of the material was examined after the cold rolling at deformation rates of 47% and 61%. The undeformed and deformed alloys have been hydroxyapatite-coated using the electrophoretic deposition process to improve its surface, corrosion, and bioactivity properties. Optical, XRD, SEM, and EDS examinations were used to analyze the samples’ uncoated, coated, and rolled-unrolled forms. The nucleation of the (Ag, Cu)Zn4 secondary phase was formed during the rolling process. Hardness and compression tests were used to determine the mechanical properties of cast and rolled alloys, and in vitro corrosion tests were carried out in simulated body fuid. Antimicrobial and cell viability tests are executed to demonstrate the biocompatibility of the deformed and HA-coated Zn–1Cu–1Ag alloy. The mechanical properties were improved after the rolling process, with the highest results found in 47% of the rolled samples exhibiting a compressive strength of 412.65±0.5 MPa and 61% of the rolled samples exhibiting a hardness value of 88.1±0.5 HV. The samples that were rolled (61%) and coated with hydroxyapatite (HA) exhibited the highest level of corrosion resistance. The antimicrobial tests revealed that the rolled and HA coated Zn1Cu1Ag groups exhibited greater inhibition rates (47 and 61%) compared to the other groups when tested against E. coli. The HA-coated groups exhibited good cell viability ratios, with the maximum viability seen in the rolled and HA-coated group at 47%.Türkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Araştırma KurumuYildiz Teknik ÜniversitesiBilimsel Araştırma Projeleri Birimi, İstanbul Teknik Üniversitesi:BAP-2023-0

Why do my thoughts feel so bad? Getting at the reciprocal effects of rumination and negative affect using dynamic structural equation modeling

Rumination means to perseveratively think about one\u27s negative feelings and problems. It is a response to affective distress that is often referred to as maladaptive emotion regulation. According to the response styles theory and control theory, rumination may further prolong and exacerbate affective distress. This means that rumination can be viewed as both an antecedent and an outcome of negative affect (NA), and vice versa. However, at the level of short-term dynamics, state rumination and NA have previously mainly been examined as two separate outcomes. To model the reciprocal within-person effects and hence, to match theoretical assumptions, we combined the two interrelated time series in one model using dynamic structural equation modeling (DSEM). Both effects (NA on subsequent rumination and rumination on subsequent NA) were modeled simultaneously while acknowledging the autoregressive nature of both states (inert properties). We used data from two experience sampling studies (NStudy 1 = 200 Belgian university students; NStudy 2 = 70 German university students). Participants were paged on smartphones several times a day (Study 1: 10; Study 2: 6) for several days (Study 1: 7; Study 2: 9-12). In both studies, we found evidence for reciprocal effects of NA and rumination, and both processes showed autoregressive relationships. Aside from central findings, higher levels of rumination were also associated with higher rumination inertia, pointing toward more habitual rumination also being associated with prolonged rumination. Together, using DSEM, we found reciprocal associations between rumination and NA, while providing new insights into the dynamics between the two processes. (DIPF/Orig.

Effects of some forage crops and mixture on sunflower yield and soil nitrogen content

This research was conducted in Dardanos Research Center in Canakkale during 2003-2005 growing seasons. The aim of this research was to investigate effects of forage crops (common vetch, common vetch + barley, narbonne vetch) on soil nitrogen contents and sunflower yield. Two years results showed that leguminous and common vetch + barley mixture had greater biomass and higher N concentration and therefore, it increased sunflower seed yield. When forage crops were removed from the field for hay, it still supplied N for the sunflower. Sunflower seed yield increased 10.57 to 16.09 % after mixing as green manure and harvesting as hay, respectively compared to control.Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University [2001 B-23]The authors wish to thank Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University (Grant No: 2001 B-23) for financial support for this study

Sequencing and timing of strategic responses after industry disruption: evidence from post-deregulation competition in the U.S. railroad industry

This paper examines the sequencing and timing of firms’ strategic responses after significant industry disruption. We show that it is not the single strategic choice or response per se, but the sequencing and patterns of consecutive strategic responses that drive a firm’s adaptation and survival in the aftermath of a shift in the industry. We find that firms’ renewal efforts involved differential adaptability in finding balance at the juxtaposition of responding to demand-side pressures and choosing a path of new capability acquisition efficiently. Our study underscores the importance of taking a sequencing approach to studying strategic responses to industry disruption

Investigation of Stone Masonry Construction Techniques and Material Properties in Hatay and Osmaniye after the 2023 Turkey Earthquake Sequence

The eleven Turkish provinces affected by the 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquakes featured historic citieswhich are home to numerous stone masonry structures. Scientific evaluations of the earthquake response ofthese structures requires knowledge of the construction techniques as well as the mechanical properties ofthe constituent masonry materials (stone and mortar). However, limited research has been conducted on theseaspects to date. To address this research gap, a post-earthquake field study was conducted on monumentalstructures located in two of the affected provinces (Hatay and Osmaniye). The paper first provides a survey ofdamage observations from the field; these highlight the significant role of masonry disaggregation in collapsemechanisms. To understand the reasons for disaggregation failures, construction techniques are investigatedsystematically using the Masonry Quality Index (MQI). The use of Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity, Schmidt ReboundHammer and Mortar Penetrometer devices to quantify mechanical properties of stone and mortar is thenpresented. Examples are provided to demonstrate how the construction technique and material property datainforms our understanding of damage mechanisms