The present study aims to perform statistical analyses on rock mass class differences encountered during the investigation and excavation phases of various tunnel projects and to quantitatively evaluate these differences. Using data obtained from five different tunnels constructed in Türkiye, the differences between the rock mass classes predicted during the investigation phase and the actual values encountered during excavation were analyzed with the parameter of Mean Percentage Absolute Difference (MPAD). The effects of the parameters introduced in the study, such as the drilling length ratio to tunnel length (LDn), total core recovery ratio (TCRn), rock quality designation ratio (RQDn) and uniaxial compressive strength test number ratio (UCSn) on these differ-ences were investigated with regression and random forest algorithms. The results showed that TCRn and RQDn have a strong inverse relationship on MPAD, in other words, the rock mass class differences decrease with the increase of these parameters. In addition, it was determined that the drilling length and total core recovery values are of critical importance in reducing the uncertainties in the tunnel route. This study is expected to contribute to more accurate predictions and to reduce cost and time losses by providing a quantitative approach to minimize uncertainties in tunnel engineering during excavation phase.

Plant-based composites (bio-composites) can become a prospective raw material to use instead of polymer-based composites and wood materials because of their advantages, including cheap material, easy processing and manufacture, an abundance of raw materials and being nature friendly. Corn and cotton stalks are renewable natural resources emerging after agricultural production. This study investigated the physical and mechanical properties (surface flammability temperature, water retention value, bending strength, thermal conductivity coefficient) of corn and cotton stalks mixed in various proportions with fiberglass plaster net for the manufacture of particleboard. In this study, particle boards mixed in different proportions were produced at a pressing temperature of 175 ° C for10 minutes using 12% urea-formaldehyde glue. The lowest thermal conductivity coefficient was found as 0.1825 W/mK in sample A (100% Cotton), the highest value in the surface flammability temperature was found as 167 0C and in sample E (100% Corn) and the highest value of bending strength was found as 9.91278 N/mm2 in sample D (75% corn, 25% cotton). The findings suggest that agricultural corn and cotton residues are suitable for the production of particle board concerning general characteristics.

The artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) imposed itself as the most effective treatment for urinary incontinence after surgery of the prostate. Along with the technological development and improvement of the device over time, more indications emerged, most of them not still being considered as mainstream but providing an alternative in the armamentarium of the modern urologist. Starting from the significant personal experience of the authors in the field, we aim to review the current indications, limits and challenges associated with the implantation of an AUS, looking at the data available in the literature but also reviewing the history of the concept and the device itself. We conclude that the AUS brought significant improvement in the health related quality of life of most men with incontinence after prostatic surgery, but there is still a need for further development of the device since the complications rate remains high, despite an obvious improvement over the decades.

In traditional medicine, Ferula is used for various therapeutic purposes such as aphrodisiac, neurological and vascular disorders, osteoporosis, and infertility. In this study, the effect of Ferula elaeochytris (FE) at prostatic and epididymal ends smooth muscle of rat vas deferens was evaluated. The effects of cumulative concentrations of FE (5, 10,15 and 20 mg/mL) were investigated on prostatic and epididymal ends of rat vas deferens in the presence of prazosin (Pra; 0.3 μM) suramin (Sur; 100 μM), atropine (Atr; 10 nM) and nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-NOARG. However only Calcium (Ca2+; 3mM and 6mM) added to the environment from outside. The FE inhibited the muscle contractions induced by electrical field stimulation (EFS) in a concentration-dependent manner. In the presence prazosin or suramin, the contractile responses to EFS (4 Hz, 50 V, 0.15 ms) were significantly inhibited by FE (10 µl and 20 µl) at the prostatic and epididymal ends of vas deferens. This inhibition was not affected by atropine (10-5M) and L- NORG, suggesting that there is no direct interaction of the FE with colinergenic and nitrergic responses. However, in the presence of prazosin or suramin, Ca adding into the organ bath significantly were reversed the inhibitor effect due to FE (20 µl) at the prostatic and epididymal ends of vas deferens. These results showed an inhibitory effect for the extract of FE on neurogenic contractile activity of prostatic and epididymal ends of vas deferens. This effect of FE may be associated with Ca2+ channels.

This study shows that tannic acid is an Alzheimer's disease (AD) model cell line on amyloid-beta (Aβ)-induced U87 (human astrocytoma cell line) in β-amyloid (Aβ)-induced in vitro Alzheimer's Disease (AD) model. We aimed to investigate the effects of antioxidants. In the study; Three groups were formed as the control group, the Aβ group, and the Aβ + tannic acid group obtained by adding tannic acid to the Aβ group. Firstly, the cytotoxic potential of TA in U87 cells was investigated by the colorimetric MTT (3-4,5-dimethyl-thiazolyl-2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide) test. To determine the antioxidant status in the cell line treated with Thymoquinone, to examine the effects of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) activities, total oxidant status (TOS), and total antioxidant status (TAS) were measured by the ELISA method. When compared to the control group, the SOD, CAT, and TOS levels were significantly decreased in the U87 cell line exposed to Aβ; TAS levels were found to increase significantly. However, the application of tannic acid to the Aβ-U87 cell line significantly increased SOD, CAT, and TAS levels; It was found that it decreased the TOS level. In in vitro experiments, we determined that tannic acid has a protective effect by increasing antioxidant parameters in the amyloid beta-induced cell line.

In recent years, various polymers have been used frequently to improve the performance properties of conventional asphalts. However, although polymers improve some properties of asphalts, phase separation problem is encountered in polymer-asphalt mixture. In this study, it is aimed to use waste plastics as an improver in asphalt modification by applying a different process than the literature in order to eliminate this problem and increase the performance of road pavements. In the study, a good chemical interaction between PET, TEOA and asphalt was tried to be obtained by using granular recycled PET and triethanolamine (TEOA) together to eliminate the phase separation problem. For this purpose, 2.5% by weight TEOA chemical was first added to B 70/100 pure asphalt, and then five different proportions (2%, 4%, 6%, 8% and 10% by weight) of PET were added to obtain modified asphalts. Chemical characterization of modified asphalts by XRD, SEM and FT-IR spectroscopy; physical properties by penetration, softening point and ductility tests; its rheological properties were determined by RV, DSR and BBR experiments. As a result of the study, it was seen that PET reacted with asphalt and the most critical results were obtained at 6%PET. According to the test results, it was determined that the asphalt hardened at this critical rate and its class changed to B 50/70, and its resistance to deformations at high and low temperatures increased significantly.

The selection or design of an energy-harvesting device can be a complex task depending on the type of application of the harvester. The energy conversion can be influenced by the size of the device, the generating vibration mode or the frequency tuning, among others. Sometimes the harvester has to operate close to a particular mechanical frequency or in a predetermined frequency range. Furthermore, the size or weight of the energy-harvesting device can be limited to space availability for its implementation. In order to design an optimised piezoelectric energy harvester taking into account these considerations, this work provides a set of graphical information based on a multi-objective optimisation to get a cantilever piezoelectric energy harvesting device with maximum power and minimum size. An analytical model validated with experimental tests serves as the model. After the optimisation, several sets of graphical data are provided to the mechanical designer, which allows obtaining the electromechanical parameters of the energy harvester, i.e. length, thickness, width, weight, frequency, load resistance, and power fit its design requirements. As a particular feature of this optimisation, it can be shown that, under a proper selection of some parameters, the harvester can generate the same power for the first and second modes.

Background/aim: Biofilm-forming activity of enterococci is a significant virulence factor explains their extreme antibiotic resistance and is of major importance for the pathogenesis of the enterococcal infections. The aim of this study was to investigate antimicrobial resistance distribution and biofilm-forming ability of clinical and fecal Enterococcus spp. strains isolated from hospitals in East Balkan region, as well as establishing possible correlation between them. Materials and methods: A total of 188 enterococcal isolates (110 clinical and 78 fecal isolates) from three Bulgarian hospitals were studied. The antibiotic susceptibility of the clinical isolates was determined by Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method on Muller Hinton agar and interpretation was in accordance with EUCAST 2017/2018. The biofilm-forming ability was studied by three different methods. Results: Eighty-five percent from clinical isolates were identified as Enterococcus faecalis and 15% as Enterococcus faecium. Biofilm-forming ability demonstrated 45% of clinical isolates and 17% of the fecal ones. Multidrug resistance was detected in 34% of the clinical isolates and those with biofilm "+" profiles predominated. Four (31%) multidrug-resistant E. faecium exhibited vancomycin resistance. Conclusion: The established statistical significance (p<0.0001) between biofilm-producing clinical isolates and commensals, demonstrated the relationship between biofilm-forming ability and increased virulence enterococcal potential. The large percentage (66%) of the multidrug resistant biofilm-positive enterococci, indicated a connection between biofilm formation and drug resistance. Therefore, it is important to prevent host colonization by elimination of factors leading to enterococcal biofilm formation. That will provide adequate and timely treatment and prevention of nosocomial infections.