The effect of cyclosporin-A on the ultrastructure of gingival tissue in Beh?et's disease

Autoimmune processes are said to play an active role in aetiology of Beh?et's disease (BD), which is also known as a multisystem disease. In the treatment of this autoimmune disease, cyclosporin A (CyA) is used. Gingival hyperplasia (GH) is one of the important side effects that have been observed in some of the patients. We aimed to evaluate the CyA-induced gingival hyperplasia in BD patients. There were 3 study groups, each having 5 patients. In the first group displaying GH, mast cells were located between epithelial cells and in the connective tissue. Mast cell granules were in crystalline form and electron-dense cored form. Fibroblasts and plasma cells were present in the connective tissue. The second group did not display GH and the mast cells were similar to those in the first group. The third group, was the control group, in which the mast cells were located between the epithelial cells and connective tissue. Mast cell granules were in electron-dense cored form. We concluded that the development of CyA-induced gingival hyperplasia is determined mainly by individual sensitivity to CyA, because although both test groups which received CyA showed an increased number and activity of fibroblasts, only one group of patients developed GH.     

Measuring long-term performance of a manufacturing firm using the Analytic Network Process (ANP) approach

This paper provides a multicriteria performance measurement model to measure a manufacturing firm's performance in terms of areas of success, which can be defined as critical areas in generating revenues and controlling costs in the operations of a manufacturing firm. In developing the performance measurement model, the Analytic Network Process (ANP) approach is used. The ANP approach, which is the general form of the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) methodology, is recommended when independence among different elements of a system assumption is violated. In a manufacturing system, the system's attributes are interrelated. Furthermore, the relative importance of these attributes with respect to each other and their contribution to the overall performance are affected by the competitive strategies applied by the manufacturing firms. The performance evaluation model developed here incorporates the competitive strategies and interdependence between the system attributes in its hierarchical structure and achieves a more realistic and accurate representation of the firm's long-term performance.     

Preparation, Growth, and Magnetic Properties of Co-doped Yb2O3 Nanoparticles and Thin Films by the Sol–Gel Process

In this study, the preparation, growth, structure and magnetic properties of Co-doped Yb₂O₃ (with the Co concentration of x=0.2) nanoparticles and thin films are studied. Precursor solutions were prepared by using the sol?Cgel synthesis process to produce nanoparticles and thin films. Co-doped Yb₂O₃ thin films with different thickness were produced on Si(100) substrate using the sol?Cgel dip coating procedure. The particle size and the crystal structure of nanoparticles were ascertained by X-ray diffraction and Scanning Electron Microscope. The surface morphologies and the microstructure of all samples were investigated by means of the Scanning Electron Microscope and the X-ray diffraction. A Quantum Design PPMS was used for magnetic measurements. Surface morphologies of Co-doped Yb₂O₃ thin films were found to be dense, without porosity, uniform, and devoid of cracks and pinholes. The grain size and thin-film thickness of Co-doped Yb₂O₃ were determined to be approximately 50?nm and 84?nm, respectively.     

Increased Angiogenesis and Lymphangiogenesis in Adenomyosis Visualized by Multiplex Immunohistochemistry

There is evidence for increased angiogenesis in the (ectopic) endometrium of adenomyosis patients under the influence of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). VEGF stimulates both angiogenesis and lymph-angiogenesis. However, information on lymph vessels in the (ectopic) endometrium of adenomyosis patients is lacking. In this retrospective matched case-control study, multiplex immunohistochemistry was performed on thirty-eight paraffin embedded specimens from premenopausal women who had undergone a hysterectomy at the Amsterdam UMC between 2001 and 2018 to investigate the evidence for (lymph) angiogenesis in the (ectopic) endometrium or myometrium of patients with adenomyosis versus controls with unrelated pathologies. Baseline characteristics of both groups were comparable. In the proliferative phase, the blood and lymph vessel densities were, respectively, higher in the ectopic and eutopic endometrium of patients with adenomyosis than in the endometrium of controls. The relative number of blood vessels without α-smooth muscle actinin (α SMA) was higher in the eutopic and ectopic endometrium of adenomyosis patients versus controls. The level of VEGF staining intensity was highest in the myometrium but did not differ between patients with adenomyosis or controls. The results indicate increased angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis in the (ectopic) endometrium affected by adenomyosis. The clinical relevance of our findings should be confirmed in prospective clinical studies.     

Structural and Dielectric Properties of Two Different BaTiO3/Polyaniline Nanocomposites

Barium titanium oxide/polyaniline (BaTiO₃/PANI) nano-composites were obtained in two different processes by the use of PANI and BaTiO₃ nano-particles synthesized by the sol–gel technique. FT-IR, XRD, SEM and TGA measurements were taken for structural properties of all samples. The molecular interaction between BaTiO₃ nanoparticles and PANI was between the H atoms in the N–H bond and the OH molecules in the solution environment. The said interaction was coordinated with BaTiO₃ molecules over O atoms. XRD results confirmed that the synthesized BaTiO₃ had a characteristic cubic perovskite structure and that its structure had not changed. TGA results revealed that the composites became more stable as the BaTiO₃ amount increased. The dielectric measurement results are consistent with the structural results at higher frequencies. Dielectricity increased as BaTiO₃ ratio increased in the environment. The change in the real part of the dielectric permittivity by frequency was stable at high frequencies. According to these results, it is concluded that the composite samples could have very high electromagnetic wave absorption values at higher frequencies (GHz).     

Structural investigation of boron undoped and doped indium stabilized bismuth oxide nanoceramic powders

The synthesis of boron undoped and doped indium stabilized bismuth oxide nanoceramic powders via the polymeric precursor technique were described. The physical properties of the precursor polymer solutions (pH, surface tension, viscosity and conductivity) were measured.     

One-step hydrothermal synthesis of yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystalline nanopowders for blue-colored zirconia-cobalt aluminate spinel composite ceramics

A novel approach for the preparation of blue-color giving zirconia nanopowders by doping of 3?mol% Y₂O₃ through simple one-step hydrothermal process is proposed. A blue-color giving yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystalline (Y-TZP) powders were prepared by urea-based solution, zirconium acetate, CoCl₂·6H₂O and AlCl₃ precursors in hydrothermal vessel at 24?h, 150?°C and 20 bars. Based on the results, the synthesized blue-color giving Y-TZP nanopowders have entirely tetragonal structure as mono phase with 3.8?±?0.2?nm average grain size and (Y, Co, Al)_xZrO₂; x?≤?0.03?at. with chemical composition. Thermal treatment was also applied to synthesized Y-TZP powders at 1200?°C and 1450?°C to observe the color evolution. Only sharp blue was obtained in Y-TZP powders resulting the development of zirconia-cobalt aluminate spinel (ZrO₂-CoAl₂O₄) composite ceramic structure for both temperatures after heat-treatment. Herein, not only formation of CoAl₂O₄ but also incorporation of cobalt (Co) and aluminum (Al) into the Y-TZP grains plays a critical role on evolving of blue color. This synthesized Y-TZP nanopowders can be a good candidate for one-step production of blue-color sintered ZrO₂-CoAl₂O₄ spinel composite ceramics in numerous ceramic applications due to their superior structural and functional properties.     

Calcia Stabilized Ceria Doped Zirconia Nanocrystalline Ceramic

Calcia-stabilized cerium doped cubic zirconia nanocrystalline ceramic was synthesized using poly (vinyl alcohol) as a polymeric precursor. Obtained ceramic was pressed into a cylindrical pellet and sintered at 850 °C. The calcined and sintered ceramics were characterized by XRF, XRD, BET and SEM. The XRD pattern of the calcined ceramic shows that the ceramic has a face centered cubic crystal structure. The SEM results show that the grain size of the ceramic was increased after sintering. The BET surface areas were determined as 13.236 and 4.397 m² g^?1 for the calcined and sintered ceramics, respectively.     

An experimental and theoretical examination of the effect of sulfur on the pyrolytically grown carbon nanotubes from sucrose-based solid state precursors

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were synthesized through pyrolysis of the sulfuric acid-carbonized byproduct of sucrose. While the presence of sulfur in the reaction media has a key role in the formation and population density of MWCNTs, we have not observed the formation of Y-junctions or encountered other novel carbon nanotube formations. Results indicate the presence of sulfur in catalyst particles trapped inside nanotubes, but failed to find sulfur in the side-walls of the CNTs. In order to verify and explain these findings, we analyzed the behavior of sulfur and its possible effects on the side-wall structure of CNTs by using density functional theory-based calculations on various atomic models depicting sulfur inclusion in the side-walls. The results of the computational study were in line with the experimental results and also provided a new perspective by suggesting that the defects such as pentagons may act as nucleation sites for the Y-branches. The results indicated that sulfur prefers to adsorb on these defective regions, but it is not responsible for the formation of these structures or defects.