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The diagnosis of oral lichen planus (OLP) poses many challenges due to its nonspecific clinical symptoms and histopathological features. Therefore, the diagnostic process should include a thorough clinical history, immunological tests, and histopathology. Our study aimed to enhance the diagnostic accuracy of OLP by integrating direct immunofluorescence (DIF) results with clinical data to develop a multivariate predictive model based on the Artificial Neural Network. Eighty patients were assessed using DIF for various markers (immunoglobulins of classes G, A, and M; complement 3; fibrinogen type 1 and 2) and clinical characteristics such as age, gender, and lesion location. Statistical analysis was performed using machine learning techniques in Statistica 13. The following variables were assessed: gender, age on the day of lesion onset, results of direct immunofluorescence, location of white patches, locations of erosions, treatment history, medications and dietary supplement intake, dental status, smoking status, flossing, and using mouthwash. Four statistically significant variables were selected for machine learning after the initial assessment. The final predictive model, based on neural networks, achieved 85% in the testing sample and 71% accuracy in the validation sample. Significant predictors included stress at onset, white patches under the tongue, and erosions on the mandibular gingiva. In conclusion, while the model shows promise, larger datasets and more comprehensive variables are needed to improve diagnostic accuracy for OLP, highlighting the need for further research and collaborative data collection efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The FRP reinforcement gained importance due to high tensile strength, high durability and ecological friendliness [1–7]. Its usefulness as the internal or Near Surface Mounted reinforcement in bent concrete elements has already been proven. Though, in terms of the compressive behaviour of the bars and concrete elements incorporating them, there are still few experimental and numerical considerations, especially when high temperatures are considered. This article contains further considerations on the performance of concrete columns with BFRP main reinforcement in fire resistance tests on the basis of previously presented authors’ numerical analyses. Comparative analysis in terms of temperatures, deformations and stresses of concrete columns with BFRP and steel main reinforcement in fire resistance tests is presented by the example of two columns, for which also experimental investigations were performed. Also, a comparative analysis of stress-strain relations for BFRP, steel and concrete at temperatures up to 600◦C is presented. It can be concluded that BFRP bars’ properties are strongly different when compressive and tensile performance is considered, especially at elevated temperatures. Tensile strength was higher for BFRP than steel at room temperature, but along with temperature growth, it came the other way (at around 600◦C). The compressive strength of the BFRP bars was higher than the value for concrete, but only for temperatures lower than 200◦C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The origins of standardised fire testing can be traced back to 1870’s, and the origin of the standard temperature-time curve to 1917. This approach, based on a 19th-century intuition is still in use up to this day, to design the 21st-century structures. Standardized fire-testing ultimately disregards the conservation of energy in the fire, as in every test the resulting temperature of the test must be the same (precisely as the temp.-time curve). To maintain this, different amount of heat is required in every test, which means that every time a different fire is modelled within the furnace. The differences between furnace fire sizes are ignored in the certification process, but can be interesting for fire researchers to understand how different materials behave in fire conditions. In this paper, Authors explore this topic by investigating the energy balance within the furnace, and comparing different fire tests together.

Summary: The paper aims to explain the differences found in the heat release rate measurements in a large sample of standard fire tests (EN 1363‐1). A total of 379 tests of vertical assemblies was investigated, all performed in furnace SPARK of the ITB Fire Testing Laboratory, in 2015‐2018. The assemblies were subdivided into two groups—wall assemblies and fire‐rated doors. These assemblies were also compared with the results of the test of a wall built with aerated autoclaved concrete blocks that was considered as the benchmark test. It was observed that walls built with highly insulated sandwich panels require less heat to maintain standard thermal exposure conditions (20%‐30% less) than their counterparts built from gypsum plasterboard or aluminium and fire‐rated glass. In case of doors, it was observed that combustible samples required significantly less heat than the benchmark case (40%‐70% less), which indicates that the combustion of the sample inside of the furnace was an additional, significant source of heat release, that may skew the qualitative assessment of their performance in fire. A more in‐depth discussion of the results is provided, with some ideas on the direction of further developments in fire testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the current study was to examine the liposuction-induced metabolic changes with regard to release of major adipokines and insulin sensitivity in overweight male patients. Seventeen overweight male patients aged 37.15 ± 9.60 years (6 with diabetes type 2, 11 without comorbidities) and 10 age-matched healthy lean controls were enrolled in the study. Using Vibration Amplification of Sound Energy at Resonance System, ultrasound assisted liposuction was applied onto the deep layers of abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue. The mean volume supranatant fat was 2208 ± 562 ml. To eliminate the confounding effects of postsurgical inflammation and to evaluate delayed metabolic effects, fasting blood was collected on the day of liposuction, within 1 to 2 months and more than 6 months after surgery. Serum leptin, soluble receptor for leptin, adiponectin, insulin, and glucose concentrations were tested and insulin sensitivity was calculated using updated model Homeostasis Model Assessment 2. Both treatment groups (diabetic and nondiabetic patients) experienced similar postsurgical weight reduction with concomitant lowering of body mass index value at 1 to 2 months follow-up, which was sustained after 6 months from surgery. Improvement in insulin sensitivity at 1 to 2 months follow-up was observed (p = .017 and p = .002, for diabetics and nondiabetics, respectively) and this change persisted over the next 4 months. At the same time, no significant changes in adipokines and soluble leptin receptor were found. These data demonstrate that in terms of metabolic consequences, Vibration Amplification of Sound Energy at Resonance abdominal liposuction might have beneficial effects in overweight diabetic and nondiabetic males by improving their insulin sensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]