Emergence timing and fixation height in Pachydiplax longipennis (Odonata: Libellulidae) at varying substrate density and sunlight exposure

This study was designed to explore the relationship between sunlight exposure and the mechanical properties of paragliding fabrics which have different colors, densities, yarn counts, and coating materials. This study exposed 5 different colors of paragliding fabrics (red, turquoise, dark blue, orange, and white) to intense sunlight for 150 hours during the summer from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. for 5 days a week for 5 weeks. Before and after the UV radiation aging process, the air permeability, tensile strength, tear strength, and bursting strength tests were performed. Test results were also evaluated using statistical methods. According to the results, the fading of the turquoise fabric was found to be the highest among the studied fabrics. It was determined that there is a significant decrease in the mechanical properties of the fabrics after sunlight exposure. After aging, the fabrics become considerably weaker in the case of mechanical properties due to the degradation in both the dyestuff and macromolecular structure of the fiber

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The psychotropic effect of vitamin D supplementation on schizophrenia symptoms

BMC Psychiatry ◽

10.1186/s12888-021-03308-w ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Aras Neriman ◽

Yilmaz Hakan ◽

Ucuncu Ozge

Keyword(s):

Vitamin D ◽

Negative Symptoms ◽

Metabolic Diseases ◽

Wisconsin Card Sorting Test ◽

Sunlight Exposure ◽

Antipsychotic Treatment ◽

Serum 25Ohd ◽

Vitamin D Receptors ◽

Vitamin D Levels ◽

The Mean

Abstract Background Schizophrenia is a multifactorial disease involving interactions between genetic and environmental factors. Vitamin D has recently been linked to many metabolic diseases and schizophrenia. Vitamin D plays essential roles in the brain in the context of neuroplasticity, neurotransmitter biosynthesis, neuroprotection, and neurotransmission. Vitamin D receptors are demonstrated in most brain regions that are related to schizophrenia. However, very few studies in the literature examine the effects of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) on schizophrenia symptoms. Methods This study aimed to examine the effects of vitamin D replacement on positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia. Serum 25OHD levels of 52 schizophrenia patients were measured. SANS and SAPS were used to evaluate the severity of schizophrenia symptoms, and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test: CV4 was used for cognitive assessment. The study was completed with 40 patients for various reasons. The patients whose serum 25OHD reached optimal levels after vitamin D replacement were reevaluated with the same scales in terms of symptom severity. The SPSS 25 package program was used for statistical analysis. The Independent-Samples t-test was used to examine the relationship between the variables that may affect vitamin D levels and the vitamin D level and to examine whether vitamin D levels had an initial effect on the scale scores. Results The mean plasma 25OHD levels of the patients was 17.87 ± 5.54. A statistically significant relationship was found only between the duration of sunlight exposure and 25 OHD level (p < 0.05). The mean SANS and SAPS scores of the participants after 25OHD replacement (23.60 ± 15.51 and 7.78 ± 8.84, respectively) were statistically significantly lower than mean SANS and SAPS scores before replacement (51.45 ± 17.96 and 18.58 ± 15.59, respectively) (p < 0.001 for all). Only the total attention score was significantly improved after replacement (p < 0.05). Conclusion The data obtained from our study suggest that eliminating the 25OHD deficiency together with antipsychotic treatment can improve the total attention span and positive and negative symptoms in schizophrenia. The 25OHD levels should be regularly measured, replacement should be started when necessary, and the patients should be encouraged to get sunlight exposure to keep optimal 25OHD levels.

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