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Deep learning methods have recently been applied for the processing of medical images, and they have shown promise in a variety of applications. This study aimed to develop a deep learning approach for identifying oral lichen planus lesions using photographic images.Anonymous retrospective photographic images of buccal mucosa with 65 healthy and 72 oral lichen planus lesions were identified using the CranioCatch program (CranioCatch, Eskişehir, Turkey). All images were re-checked and verified by Oral Medicine and Maxillofacial Radiology experts. This data set was divided into training (n = 51; n = 58), verification (n = 7; n = 7), and test (n = 7; n = 7) sets for healthy mucosa and mucosa with the oral lichen planus lesion, respectively. In the study, an artificial intelligence model was developed using Google Inception V3 architecture implemented with Tensorflow, which is a deep learning approach.AI deep learning model provided the classification of all test images for both healthy and diseased mucosa with a 100% success rate.In the healthcare business, AI offers a wide range of uses and applications. The increased effort increased complexity of the job, and probable doctor fatigue may jeopardize diagnostic abilities and results. Artificial intelligence (AI) components in imaging equipment would lessen this effort and increase efficiency. They can also detect oral lesions and have access to more data than their human counterparts. Our preliminary findings show that deep learning has the potential to handle this significant challenge.

Phoenixin-14 (PNX-14) and nucleobindin 2 (NUCB2)/nesfatin-1 are regulatory neuropeptides expressed in the hypothalamus. These neuropeptides can be effective in hormonal regulation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis and reproductive functions. In the present study, the distribution of PNX-14 and NUCB2/nesfatin-1 in the hypothalamus, pituitary, ovary, and uterus tissues during the phases of the estrous cycle in female rats was investigated. Eighteen Wistar Albino rats determined among animals showing regular estrous cycle by vaginal smear method were divided into three groups: proestrus (Group I), estrus (Group II) and diestrus (Group III). Serum gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), plasma PNX-14, and NUCB2/nesfatin-1 concentrations were the highest, moderate, and lowest in estrus, diestrus, and proestrus phases, respectively. PNX-14 immunoreactivity in the supraoptic and arcuate nuclei of the hypothalamus and NUCB2/nesfatin-1 immunoreactivity in the paraventricular nuclei were particularly evident in the estrus phase. These neuropeptide immunoreactivities were decreased in different cells of anterior pituitary during proestrus compared with those during estrus and diestrus. PNX-14 immunoreactivity in the ovary, especially during the estrus phase, was diffuse and intense in the granulosa and luteal cells and oocytes, and it was few and weak in theca cells. In addition, NUCB2/nesfatin-1 immunoreactivity was abundant and strong in granulosa and luteal cells, theca and interstitial cells, and oocytes during estrus. In the estrus phase, PNX-14 immunoreactivity was strong in the glandular epithelial cells and stromal cells of the endometrium, also NUCB2/nesfatin-1 immunoreactivity was strong in the epithelial and glandular epithelial cells. As a result, when the estrous cycle was evaluated, it was concluded that the changes in the distribution of PNX-14 and NUCB2/nesfatin-1 at all phases were related to GnRH and that these neuropeptides showed the highest immunoreactivity especially in the HPG axis and uterus tissues of estrus rats.

While the definitive diagnosis of COVID-19 relies on PCR confirmation of the virus, the sensitivity of this technique is limited. The clinicians had to go on with the clinical diagnosis of COVID-19 in selected cases. We aimed to compare PCR-positive and PCR-negative patients diagnosed as COVID-19 with a specific focus on older adults.We studied 601 hospitalized adults. The demographics, co-morbidities, triage clinical, laboratory characteristics, and outcomes were noted. Differences between the PCR (+) and (-) cases were analyzed. An additional specific analysis focusing on older adults (≥65 years) (n = 184) was performed.The PCR confirmation was present in 359 (59.7 %). There was not any difference in terms of age, sex, travel/contact history, hospitalization duration, ICU need, the time between first symptom/hospitalization to ICU need, ICU days, or survival between PCR-positive and negative cases in the total study group and older adults subgroup. The only symptoms that were different in prevalence between PCR-confirmed and unconfirmed cases were fever (73.3 % vs. 64 %, p = 0.02) and fatigue/myalgia (91.1 % vs. 79.3 %, p = 0.001). Bilateral diffuse pneumonia was also more prevalent in PCR-confirmed cases (20 % vs. 13.3 %, p = 0.03). In older adults, the PCR (-) cases had more prevalent dyspnea (72.2 % vs. 51.4 %, p = 0.004), less prevalent fatigue/myalgia (70.9 % vs. 88.6 %, p = 0.002).The PCR (+) and (-) cases displayed very similar disease phenotypes, courses, and outcomes with few differences between each other. The presence of some worse laboratory findings may indicate a worse immune protective response in PCR (-) cases.

This study aims to investigate whether boric acid (BA) can protect rats from acrylamide (AA)-induced acute liver injury.AA was used to induce acute liver injury. Thirty rats were divided into five group including Group 1 (saline), Group 2 (AA), Group 3 (20 mg/kg BA), Group 4 (10 mg/kg BA+AA) and Group 5 (20 mg/kg BA+AA). Their blood and liver were harvested to be kept for analysis. Liver function enzyme activities were performed by spectrophotometric method. Catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and malondialdehyde levels were determined by colorimetric method. The in-silico studies were performed using the "blind docking" method.Administration AA to rats, biochemical parameters, liver histology, and expression levels of apoptotic markers were negatively affected. However, after the administration of BA, the altered biochemical parameters, liver histology, and expression levels of apoptotic markers were reversed. Moreover, the mechanisms of AA-induced deterioration in the levels of SOD, CAT, and Nrf2-Keap-1 and the mechanisms of the protective effect of BA against these deteriorations were explained by in silico studies.Thus, the present study could explain the interactions between AA and thiol-containing amino acid residues of Keap-1, the effect of BA on these interactions, and the biochemical toxicity caused by the AA. In this sense, this work is the first of its kind in the literature. Based on the biochemical, histopathological, and in silico results, it can be suggested that BA has the potential to be used as a protective agent against AA-induced liver injury.

Recent findings showed that some trace elements essential for anaerobic digestion might be deficient in chicken (laying hens) manure. In this study, the long-term influence of trace element deficiency on anaerobic mono-digestion of chicken manure was investigated. Three bench-scale anaerobic reactors were operated with or without trace element supplementation. As trace element, only Se or a mix containing Co, Mo, Ni, Se, and W was added to the reactors. The results revealed that in anaerobic digestion of chicken manure at total ammonium nitrogen concentrations over 6000 mg L−1, Se supplementation was critical but not sufficient alone for long-term stable CH4 production. Addition of a mix consisting of Co, Mo, Ni, Se and W resulted in a more stable digestion performance. Daily trace element mix supplementation promoted the hydrogenotrophic Methanoculleus bourgensis, which is an ammonia tolerant methanogen. The decrease in the relative abundance of Methanoculleus detected after termination of trace element addition and resulted in accumulation of acetate and propionate that followed by a significant decrease in CH4 production.

The Taurus Mountains of southwest Turkey are split into numerous separated ranges, of which eleven supported former glaciers. We describe cirques and related moraines in four new locations, as well as those in seven ranges where glaciation was previously known. This gives a complete inventory of the 85 cirques in southwest Turkey. These are comparable in size to those elsewhere, but narrower and often less developed. Lengths averaging 672 m are high relative to widths of 542 m. Overall axial gradients average 22.4°. Cirque floor altitudes are controlled largely by altitudes of the mountains above, but they also vary in relation to precipitation, in sympathy with ELAs (Equilibrium Line Altitudes) of former glaciers. In most ranges where glaciers were short (extending little beyond cirques), ELA can be predicted from mean mid-floor altitude. Our observations demonstrate lower ELAs than in previous literature. Both ELAs and cirque floors rise eastward in the west, and northward inland from the coast. This supports the importance of winds from the west and southwest, off the Mediterranean Sea, bringing LGM (Last Glacial Maximum) conditions wetter than present to mountains near the coast. Cirques face on average a little east of north, showing the effects of shade and differential solar radiation receipt.

In this work, a cognitive Wireless Regional Area Network (WRAN) technology-based sensor network for agricultural monitoring is proposed. In WRAN technology, a Consumer Premise Equipment (CPE) and a base station communicate through incumbent channels opportunistically without causing any harmful interference to incumbent operations. Because CPE in IEEE 802.22 WRAN is considered as a fixed device, CPE with sensing capability is suitable for wireless sensor network environment in agriculture monitoring where there is no need for node mobility. The proposed network model consists of terrestrial and underground networks. In terrestrial network, CPEs employ Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) technique with the purpose of sensing environmental data such as temperature, pressure, etc. and transmitting them to the base station. In the underground network, underground sensor nodes use Carrier Sense Multiple Access (CSMA) technique with the aim of sensing underground data such as humidity, soil mineral, etc. and transmitting them to the base station via cluster heads. After obtaining the analytical model of the proposed network, the simulation model of the network is carried out using Riverbed Modeler. The graphical results prove the validity and applicability of the proposed network in terms of throughput and energy consumption without any spectrum cost for agricultural monitoring in rural areas. (c) 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. WOS:000571497400008 2-s2.0-85087276669

Bayrakdar, M. Enes/0000-0001-9446-0988 WOS: 000390507400024 In this study, priority based non-preeinptive M/G/1 queueing model of spectrum handoff scheme is proposed in Wireless Cognitive Radio Networks. Channel bonding mechanism with starvation mitigation is employed in order to improve spectrum handoff utilization for secondary users. Since spectrum handoff offers an opportunity to secondary users for continuing their communication, it is of critical significance to determine action of primary users. In the queueing model, prioritized data traffic with aging solution to starvation is exploited to meet requirements of the secondary users. In aging mechanism; when the packet of the low priority secondary user waits in the queue more than three frame times, priority of that packet is increased. Packets of secondary users are categorized into three different priority classes, i.e., urgent, real time, and non-real time where non-real time data packets have the lowest priority while urgent data packets have the highest priority. Channel bonding mechanism is described as combining two subsequent time slots if the size of the packet is bigger than one time slot. Idle time slots for channel bonding are determined using both proactive and reactive decision based spectrum handoff schemes. Before starting spectrum handoff process with proactive scheme, first of two subsequent time slot is sensed using reactive scheme. Riverbed Modeler simulation software is utilized to simulate channel bonding and aging mechanisms. Analytical results are shown to be matched with the simulation results obtained under different load and-arrival rates. This study has also exposed that the throughput of secondary users could be increased significantly by employing aging solution to starvation, and channel bonding mechanisms. (C) 2016 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved. Duzce University Scientific Research Projects OfficeDuzce University [2015.07.02.329] This research is supported by the Duzce University Scientific Research Projects Office with grant number 2015.07.02.329.

International Conference on Nanoscale Magnetism (ICNM-2013) -- SEP 02-06, 2013 -- Istanbul, TURKEY, WOS: 000343799300046, As a continuation of our recently published work, we have used the pair approximation in Kikuchi version to investigate martensitic and austenitic transformations in homogeneous (HM) and composite (CM) cubic nanoparticles (CNPs) based on the Blume-Emery-Griffiths model. A single cubic nanoparticle made of a core surrounded by a surface is considered as shaped in two dimensional (2D) square arrays instead of hexagonal array. From the phase diagrams of HM and CM-CNPs it has been observed that the martensitic-austenitic transformations (MT-AT) occurred. The influence of the exchange coupling and single-ion anisotropy parameters in the model Hamiltonian on the MT-AT is studied and analyzed in comparison with the results for hexagonal nanoparticles. Significant changes of the phase transition points and hysteresis behaviours depending upon the particle structure have been discussed. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A design-based dynamic simulation tool was developed to evaluate the effects of altered operation conditions on the performance of a landfill leachate treating pre-anoxic oxidation ditch folowed by external ultra filtration and nano filtration membranesby using the actual influent data and operational constants collected for 18 months. In the summer of 2017, the MBR suffered from reduced membrane fluxes due to deterioration of activated sludge flocs after the failure of flow booster providing the internal circulation and decreasing influent C/N ratio. Although two external pumps were activated in place of the broken flow booster, the required internal recirculation ratio (IR) predicted by the simulation could not be provided. It was concluded that due to low IR, the activated sludge retaining longer in the anoxic tank lost its floc integrity and caused decreased membrane fluxes. Simulation findings also showed that if the COD/N ratio drops below 4.8, no matter how high the IR is, it is unlikely to achieve a NOx-N concentration below 30 mg/l in the effluent. On the other hand, contrary to expectations, both the actual and estimated nitrification efficiencies were very high due to the moderately high temperature (>20 °C) and DO (2–3 mg/l) values in the aerobic basin.

We have investigated the magnetic and microwave absorbing behavior of Ba 2 Co 2 Cr 2 Fe 12 O 22 Nano Particles (NPs)/polyaniline (PANI) and polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanocomposite materials. Particles showed phase purity and crystallinity in powder X ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. Temperature dependence of magnetic parameters was observed. Microwave absorbing showed very broad and high reflection loss.

In this study, we investigate the cumulative diminution phenomenon for a physical quantity and a diminution process with a constant acquisition quantity in each step in a viscous medium. We analyze the existence of a dynamical mechanism that underlies the success of fractional calculus ​compared with standard mathematics for describing stochastic processes by ​proposing a Fibonacci approach, where we assume that the complex processes evolves cumulatively in fractal space and discrete time. ​Thus, when the differential–integral order α is attained, this indicates the ​involvement of the viscosity of the medium ​in the evolving process. The future value of the diminishing physical quantity is obtained in terms of the Mittag-Leffler function (MLF) and two rheological laws ​are inferred from the asymptotic limits. Thus, we conclude that the differential–integral calculus of fractional mathematics implicitly embodies the cumulative diminution mechanism ​that occurs in a viscous medium.

Supplementation of natural antioxidants to diets of male poultry has been reported to be effective in reducing or completely eliminating heat stress (HS)-induced reproductive failures. In this study, the aim is to investigate whether rosemary oil (RO) has a protective effect on HS-induced damage in spermatozoa production, testicular histologic structures, apoptosis, and androgenic receptor (AR) through lipid peroxidation mechanisms in growing Japanese quail. Male chicks (n=90) at 15-days of age were assigned to two groups. The first group (n=45) was kept in a thermo-neutral (TN) room at 22°C for 24h/d. The second group (n=45) was kept in a room with a greater ambient temperature of 34°C for 8h/d (from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM) and 22°C for 16h/d. Animals in each of these two groups were randomly assigned to three subgroups (RO groups: 0, 125, 250ppm), consisting of 15 chicks (six treatment groups in 2×3 factorial design). Each of subgroups was replicated three times with each replicate including five chicks. The HS treatment significantly reduced the testicular spermatogenic cell counts, amount of testicular Bcl-2 (anti-apoptotic marker) and amount of AR. In addition, it significantly increased testicular lipid peroxidation, Bax (apoptotic marker) immunopositive staining, and the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio in conjunction with some histopathologic damage. Dietary supplementation of RO to diets of quail where the HS treatment was imposed alleviated HS-induced almost all negative changes such as increased testicular lipid peroxidation, decreased numbers of spermatogenic cells, and decreased amounts of Bcl-2 and AR, increased ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 and some testicular histopathologic lesion. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of RO for growing male Japanese quail reared in HS environmental conditions alleviates the HS-induced structural and functional damage by providing a decrease in lipid peroxidation.