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  • Article
    Calcium Phosphate Honeycomb Scaffolds With Tailored Microporous Walls Using Phase Separation-Assisted Digital Light Processing
    (MDPI, 2025) Kim, Gyu-Nam; Park, Jae-Hyung; Song, Jae-Uk; Koh, Young-Hag; Park, Jongee
    The present study reports on the manufacturing of biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) honeycomb scaffolds with tailored microporous walls using phase separation-assisted digital light processing (PS-DLP). To create micropores in BCP walls, camphene was used as the pore-forming agent for preparing BCP suspensions, since it could be completely dissolved in photopolymerizable monomers composed of triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) and polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) and then undergo phase separation when placed at 5 degrees C. Therefore, solid camphene crystals could be formed in phase-separated BCP layers and then readily removed via sublimation after the photopolymerization of monomer networks embedding BCP particles by DLP. This approach allowed for tight control over the microporosity of BCP walls by adjusting the camphene content. As the camphene content increased from 40 to 60 vol%, the microporosity increased from similar to 38 to similar to 59 vol%. Consequently, the overall porosity of dual-scale porosity scaffolds increased from similar to 51 to similar to 67 vol%, while their compressive strength decreased from similar to 70.4 to similar to 13.7 MPa. The mass transport ability increased remarkably with an increase in microporosity.
  • Article
    Citation - WoS: 3
    Citation - Scopus: 3
    Expectancy From, and Acceptance of Augmented Reality in Dental Education Programs: a Structural Equation Model
    (Wiley, 2024) Toker, Sacip; Akay, Canan; Basmaci, Fulya; Kilicarslan, Mehmet Ali; Mumcu, Emre; Cagiltay, Nergiz Ercil
    ObjectiveDental schools need hands-on training and feedback. Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies enable remote work and training. Education programs only partially integrated these technologies. For better technology integration, infrastructure readiness, prior-knowledge readiness, expectations, and learner attitudes toward AR and VR technologies must be understood together. Thus, this study creates a structural equation model to understand how these factors affect dental students' technology use.MethodsA correlational survey was done. Four questionnaires were sent to 755 dental students from three schools. These participants were convenience-sampled. Surveys were developed using validity tests like explanatory and confirmatory factor analyses, Cronbach's alpha, and composite reliability. Ten primary research hypotheses are tested with path analysis.ResultsA total of 81.22% responded to the survey (755 out of 930). Positive AR attitude, expectancy, and acceptance were endogenous variables. Positive attitudes toward AR were significantly influenced by two exogenous variables: infrastructure readiness (B = 0.359, beta = 0.386, L = 0.305, U = 0.457, p = 0.002) and prior-knowledge readiness (B = -0.056, beta = 0.306, L = 0.305, U = 0.457, p = 0.002). Expectancy from AR was affected by infrastructure, prior knowledge, and positive and negative AR attitudes. Infrastructure, prior-knowledge readiness, and positive attitude toward AR had positive effects on expectancy from AR (B = 0.201, beta = 0.204, L = 0.140, U = 0.267, p = 0.002). Negative attitude had a negative impact (B = -0.056, beta = -0.054, L = 0.091, U = 0.182, p = 0.002). Another exogenous variable was AR acceptance, which was affected by infrastructure, prior-knowledge preparation, positive attitudes, and expectancy. Significant differences were found in infrastructure, prior-knowledge readiness, positive attitude toward AR, and expectancy from AR (B = 0.041, beta = 0.046, L = 0.026, U = 0.086, p = 0.054).ConclusionInfrastructure and prior-knowledge readiness for AR significantly affect positive AR attitudes. Together, these three criteria boost AR's potential. Infrastructure readiness, prior-knowledge readiness, positive attitudes toward AR, and AR expectations all increase AR adoption. The study provides insights that can help instructional system designers, developers, dental education institutions, and program developers better integrate these technologies into dental education programs. Integration can improve dental students' hands-on experience and program performance by providing training options anywhere and anytime.
  • Article
    Citation - WoS: 5
    Citation - Scopus: 4
    Avoiding Contingent Incidents by Quadrotors Due To One or Two Propellers Failure
    (Public Library Science, 2023) Altinuc, Kemal Orcun; Khan, Muhammad Umer; Iqbal, Jamshed
    With the increasing impact of drones in our daily lives, safety issues have become a primary concern. In this study, a novel supervisor-based active fault-tolerant (FT) control system is presented for a rotary-wing quadrotor to maintain its pose in 3D space upon losing one or two propellers. Our approach allows the quadrotor to make controlled movements about a primary axis attached to the body-fixed frame. A multi-loop cascaded control architecture is designed to ensure robustness, stability, reference tracking, and safe landing. The altitude control is performed using a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller, whereas linear-quadratic-integral (LQI) and model-predictive-control (MPC) have been investigated for reduced attitude control and their performance is compared based on absolute and mean-squared error. The simulation results affirm that the quadrotor remains in a stable region, successfully performs the reference tracking, and ensures a safe landing while counteracting the effects of propeller(s) failures.
  • Article
    Citation - WoS: 4
    Citation - Scopus: 4
    Effects of Cerium Oxide on Kidney and Liver Tissue Damage in an Experimental Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Model of Distant Organ Damage
    (Mdpi, 2024) Gunes, Isin; Dursun, Ali Dogan; Ozdemir, Cagri; Kucuk, Aysegul; Sezen, Saban Cem; Arslan, Mustafa; Ozer, Abdullah
    Background and Objectives: Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury is a process in which impaired perfusion is restored by restoring blood flow and tissue recirculation. Nanomedicine uses cutting-edge technologies that emerge from interdisciplinary influences. In the literature, there are very few in vivo and in vitro studies on how cerium oxide (CeO2) affects systemic anti-inflammatory response and inflammation. Therefore, in our study, we aimed to investigate whether CeO2 administration has a protective effect against myocardial I/R injury in the liver and kidneys. Materials and Methods: Twenty-four rats were randomly divided into four groups after obtaining approval from an ethics committee. A control (group C), cerium oxide (group CO), IR (group IR), and Cerium oxide-IR (CO-IR group) groups were formed. Intraperitoneal CeO2 was administered at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg 30 min before left thoracotomy and left main coronary (LAD) ligation, and myocardial muscle ischemia was induced for 30 min. After LAD ligation was removed, reperfusion was performed for 120 min. All rats were euthanized using ketamine, and blood was collected. Liver and kidney tissue samples were evaluated histopathologically. Serum AST (aspartate aminotransferase), ALT (alanine aminotransaminase), GGT (gamma-glutamyl transferase), glucose, TOS (Total Oxidant Status), and TAS (Total Antioxidant Status) levels were also measured. Results: Necrotic cell and mononuclear cell infiltration in the liver parenchyma of rats in the IR group was observed to be significantly increased compared to the other groups. Hepatocyte degeneration was greater in the IR group compared to groups C and CO. Vascular vacuolization and hypertrophy, tubular degeneration, and necrosis were increased in the kidney tissue of the IR group compared to the other groups. Tubular dilatation was significantly higher in the IR group than in the C and CO groups. TOS was significantly higher in all groups than in the IR group (p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001, and p = 0.006, respectively). However, TAS level was lower in the IR group than in the other groups (p = 0.002, p = 0.020, and p = 0.031, respectively). Renal and liver histopathological findings decreased significantly in the CO-IR group compared to the IR group. A decrease in the TOS level and an increase in the TAS level were found compared to the IR group. The AST, ALT, GGT, and Glucose levels are shown. Conclusions: CeO2 administered before ischemia-reperfusion reduced oxidative stress and ameliorated IR-induced damage in distant organs. We suggest that CeO2 exerts protective effects in the myocardial IR model.
  • Article
    The Effect of a Single Session Rubber Hand Illusion on Pressure Pain Is Not Long-Lasting
    (John Wiley and Sons Inc, 2025) Ceylan, H.; Acet, N.; Günendi, Z.
    Background: Rubber hand illusion (RHI) is an experience that causes changes in body perception and awareness as a result of the integration of simultaneous perceived visual and tactile stimuli. After synchronous brush strokes with rubber and real hands, the person perceives the rubber hand as their own. RHI is known to alter pain perception. In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the effects of RHI on pressure pain threshold and continuity of this effect. Methods: Twenty-three volunteers who developed RHI were included in our study and two conditions, illusion (synchronous) and control (asynchronous), were applied. The illusion condition was created by synchronous brush strokes, while the control condition was created by asynchronous brush application using different frequency and different finger areas in the same individuals. In both conditions, pressure pain threshold measurements with an algometer were performed at four times: baseline/1st measurement, during the brush stroke/2nd measurement, at the end of the brush stroke/3rd measurement and after the hand was removed from the environment/4th measurement. Results: It was shown that RHI increased the pressure-pain threshold (p = 0.004) in healthy volunteers. Asynchronous brush strokes arranged as a control trial significantly decreased the pressure pain threshold (p = 0.002). Conclusions: It was found that the threshold values that change during the brush strokes return to the initial state after the brush strokes are terminated and the rubber hand is removed from the environment so that the effect of the illusion does not last for a long time with a single session application. © 2025 European Pain Federation - EFIC ®.
  • Article
    Citation - WoS: 3
    Citation - Scopus: 3
    Incidence of Medical Device-Related Pressure Injuries and Identification of Risk Factors in the Neonatal Unit
    (Elsevier Sci Ltd, 2024) Yarkiner, Zalihe; Bahar, Arzu; Sonmez, Munevver; Kapan, Emine; Sahin, Simge; Kostekci, Ezgi; Erdeve, Omer
    Aim: This study was conducted to investigate the incidence of medical device-related pressure injuries (MDRPIs) and the risk factors influencing their occurrence in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Method: This study is a prospective, descriptive study. The research was conducted with 116 newborns between June 1, 2022, and June 1, 2023. Newborns who stayed in the neonatal intensive care unit for at least 24 h were observed daily for medical device-related pressure injuries under and around each medical device throughout their stay in the intensive care unit. The "Case Report Form," "MDRPIs Monitoring Form," "Braden Q scale for children," National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel (NPIAP) Pressure Grading, and Glasgow Coma Scale were used in the research. Results: The incidence of medical device-related pressure injuries is 35.3 % (41/116). It was found that 38.1 % (16/42) of medical device-related pressure injuries developed due to Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) probes, and 33.5 % (14/42) developed due to medical devices related to the respiratory system. In terms of anatomical location, 38.1 % occurred on the forehead, and 23.8 % on the arm/leg. The difference between birth weight, gestational age, development of MDRPIs in newborns receiving sedation and inotropes was found to be statistically significant. Regression analysis identified gestational age (p = 0.040, OR = 0.795, 95%CI = [0.632-1.000]) as an independent risk factor for the occurrence of medical device-related pressure injuries. Conclusions: The incidence of medical device-related pressure injuries in newborns was relatively high in this study, with gestational age being the most significant risk factor for MDRPIs formation. It is crucial for neonatal intensive care nurses to consider associated risk factors while providing newborn care and implement appropriate preventive measures to reduce the incidence of MDRPIs.
  • Article
    Citation - WoS: 1
    Citation - Scopus: 1
    Detection of Sexually Transmitted Infection Agents in Pregnant Women Using Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction Method
    (BMC, 2025) Bakir, Ayfer; Cendek, Busra Demir; Usluca, Selma; Aral, Murat; Korkut, Gizem; Morkoc, Mehmet; Keskin, Huseyin Levent
    BackgroundSexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a significant public health concern that can lead to serious outcomes such as infertility, pregnancy complications, and neonatal infections. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of STI and their associated risk factors in symptomatic and asymptomatic pregnant women.MethodsBetween July and October 2024, a total of 300 pregnant women in their third trimester, including 113 symptomatic and 187 asymptomatic individuals aged 18 to 45 years, who sought antenatal care at the Gynecology and Obstetrics Clinic of Ankara Etlik City Hospital, were included in the study. The detection of STIs agents in vaginal swab samples was performed using multiplex polymerase chain reaction in the Molecular Diagnosis Laboratory of the Department of Microbiology.ResultsThe overall prevalence of STIs was 34.3% (103/300), with single and multiple infections accounting for 28.3% and 6.0% of cases, respectively. The most frequently detected pathogens were Ureaplasma parvum/urealiticum (29.0%), Mycoplasma hominis (4.6%), and Chlamydia trachomatis (2.3%). Co-infections were commonly observed between Ureaplasma parvum/urealiticum and Mycoplasma hominis. No significant difference in STI prevalence was observed between the symptomatic (35.4%) and asymptomatic (33.7%) groups. Co-infection with non-STI bacterial agents, such as Gardnerella vaginalis and Streptococcus agalactiae, increased the risk of STIs by 1.96 times (p = 0.006).ConclusionsThis study revealed that STIs occur at similar rates among symptomatic and asymptomatic pregnant women. This finding highlights the critical importance of detecting asymptomatic cases to prevent the spread of silent infections and to safeguard maternal and neonatal health. Ureaplasma parvum/urealiticum were identified as the most common pathogens. Given that co-infections with non-STI bacterial agents significantly increase the risk of STIs, multiplex PCR-based multicenter and prospective studies are essential to refine screening strategies for pregnant women.
  • Article
    Citation - WoS: 11
    Citation - Scopus: 11
    Higher Rates of Cefiderocol Resistance Among Ndm Producing klebsiella Bloodstream Isolates Applying Eucast Over Clsi Breakpoints
    (Taylor & Francis Ltd, 2023) Isler, Burcu; Vatansever, Cansel; Ozer, Berna; Cinar, Gule; Aslan, Abdullah Tarik; Falconer, Caitlin; Harris, Patrick N. A.
    BackgroundCefiderocol is generally active against carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella spp. (CRK) with higher MICs against metallo-beta-lactamase producers. There is a variation in cefiderocol interpretive criteria determined by EUCAST and CLSI. Our objective was to test CRK isolates against cefiderocol and compare cefiderocol susceptibilities using EUCAST and CLSI interpretive criteria.MethodsA unique collection (n = 254) of mainly OXA-48-like- or NDM-producing CRK bloodstream isolates were tested against cefiderocol with disc diffusion (Mast Diagnostics, UK). Beta-lactam resistance genes and multilocus sequence types were identified using bioinformatics analyses on complete bacterial genomes.ResultsMedian cefiderocol inhibition zone diameter was 24 mm (interquartile range [IQR] 24-26 mm) for all isolates and 18 mm (IQR 15-21 mm) for NDM producers. We observed significant variability between cefiderocol susceptibilities using EUCAST and CLSI breakpoints, such that 26% and 2% of all isolates, and 81% and 12% of the NDM producers were resistant to cefiderocol using EUCAST and CLSI interpretive criteria, respectively.ConclusionsCefiderocol resistance rates among NDM producers are high using EUCAST criteria. Breakpoint variability may have significant implications on patient outcomes. Until more clinical outcome data are available, we suggest using EUCAST interpretive criteria for cefiderocol susceptibility testing.
  • Article
    Knee Hyperextension in Chronic Stroke: Associated Biomechanical and Neuromuscular Factors
    (Elsevier Sci Ltd, 2025) Korkusuz, Sueleyman; Korkusuz, Busra Seckinogullari; Ozgoren, Nihat; Aritan, Serdar; Ceren, Ali Naim; Topcuoglu, Mehmet Akif; Balkan, Ayla Fil
    Background: This study aimed to determine the gait phase in which knee hyperextension occurs in stroke patients and to investigate the factors associated with knee hyperextension. Methods: This study included 30 stroke patients aged between 40 and 70 years with maximum knee hyperextension during the stance phase of gait. Muscle strength was evaluated with manual muscle test, and muscle tone was assessed with the Modified Ashworth Scale. Kinematic evaluation of the patients was made using the motion analysis system. Additionally, categorisation was made according to the stance phase of gait, where knee hyperextension was at its highest. Findings: A weak relationship was found between maximum knee hyperextension angle and gastrocnemius spasticity, a moderate relationship between knee flexor muscle strength, and a moderate relationship between ankle dorsiflexor muscle strength. In addition, a weak relationship was found between the maximum knee hyperextension and pelvic retraction angles. According to this clustering, it was observed that 66.67 % of the participants (20 people) showed maximum knee hyperextension in the single support phase. It was observed that the participants who had maximum knee hyperextension, especially after the mid-stance phase, had higher mean gastrocnemius spasticity. It was also observed that participants in Cluster 4, with a greater amount of maximum knee hyperextension, had the worst clinical parameters. Interpretation: Our study observed that the degree of maximum knee hyperextension was related to knee flexor and ankle dorsiflexor muscle strengths, gastrocnemius spasticity and pelvic retraction. As clinical parameters worsened, maximum knee hyperextension was thought to occur late in the stance phase. Clinical Trial code: NCT05679700
  • Article
    A Benchmark of Expert-Level Academic Questions to Assess AI Capabilities
    (Nature Portfolio, 2026) Phan, Long; Gatti, Alice; Li, Nathaniel; Khoja, Adam; Kim, Ryan; Ren, Richard; Scaramuzza, Davide; Park, Jongee
    Benchmarks are important tools for tracking the rapid advancements in large language model (LLM) capabilities. However, benchmarks are not keeping pace in difficulty: LLMs now achieve more than 90% accuracy on popular benchmarks such as Measuring Massive Multitask Language Understanding(1), limiting informed measurement of state-of-the-art LLM capabilities. Here, in response, we introduce Humanity's Last Exam (HLE), a multi-modal benchmark at the frontier of human knowledge, designed to be an expert-level closed-ended academic benchmark with broad subject coverage. HLE consists of 2,500 questions across dozens of subjects, including mathematics, humanities and the natural sciences. HLE is developed globally by subject-matter experts and consists of multiple-choice and short-answer questions suitable for automated grading. Each question has a known solution that is unambiguous and easily verifiable but cannot be quickly answered by internet retrieval. State-of-the-art LLMs demonstrate low accuracy and calibration on HLE, highlighting a marked gap between current LLM capabilities and the expert human frontier on closed-ended academic questions. To inform research and policymaking upon a clear understanding of model capabilities, we publicly release HLE at https://lastexam.ai.