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Abstract Integration of large‐scale wind farms (WFs) into the grid has to meet the critical constraints set in the national grid code. Wind farm operators (WFOs) are inclined to comply with these constraints and avoid heavy penalty costs for violating such regulations. However, this may result in reduced power sent to the grid. Moreover, the addition of new rules to account for the increased penetration of WFs brings challenges to the profitability of the WFs. A battery energy storage system (BESS), if sized optimally, can be a reliable method to fulfill the grid code requirements without sacrificing profit. This paper provides a techno‐economic model to find the optimal rated capacity and power for a BESS in WFs. This optimization model takes the absolute production and delta production constraints into account. Two approaches are studied for integrating these constraints into the grid code. It is shown that the flexible strategy financially outperforms the strict addition of the new rules. This will be useful, especially to attract investments in wind energy projects despite the abovementioned limitations in the grid code. All the modeling and analysis are done for a potential offshore wind power plant (OWPP) in Turkey. Simulation results show the effectiveness of the optimal BESS in increasing the amount of energy delivered to the grid and improving the profitability of the OWPP.

In this study, the effects of vitamin D3 (Vit. D) and a stinging nettle (Urtica dioica L. (UD)) extract were examined using histopathological and immunohistochemical methods in the stomach tissues of an experimentally created rat model of CD. The CD model was created using trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS). The animals in the study were divided into control, TNBS, TNBS+Vit. D, and TNBS+UD groups. At the end of the experiment, the animals were euthanised and their stomach tissues were evaluated for necrosis, degeneration, apoptosis, and inflammation. Additionally, an immunohistochemical method was applied to determine the somatostatin (SSTR), aquaporin-1 (AQP-1), caspase-3, and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) immunoreactivity in the gastric tissues. In the evaluations, degenerative and necrotic changes and mononuclear cell infiltration areas were observed in the TNBS group, but such changes could be improved with Vit. D and UD applications. The results suggest that the combination of the Vit. D and UD extract may have a protective and therapeutic role in mitigating TNBS-induced damage to the gastric tissues, potentially through the regulation of SSTR, AQP-1, caspase-3, and TNF-α expression. This indicates a promising avenue for further research and the exploration of these compounds in the context of gastrointestinal health.

Studies have provided evidence for the effectiveness of intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy (ISTDP) in treating medically unexplained symptoms (MUS). This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of ISTDP on individuals living with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in terms of, emotion regulation (ER) abilities, defense mechanisms, quality of life (QOL), and IBS symptoms. A total of 30 patients diagnosed with IBS were recruited and randomly assigned to either the intervention (n = 15) or control (n = 15) group. Pre- and post-treatment assessments were conducted, along with a follow-up assessment after ten weeks. Repeated measures analyses of variance were employed to analyze the data. The findings revealed that ISTDP led to significant improvements in ER, defense mechanisms, and QOL, as well as a reduction in the severity and frequency of IBS symptoms. These results provide further support for the efficacy of ISTDP as a treatment modality for individuals with IBS.

This paper proposes a barrier function-based adaptive control strategy with a nonlinear sliding surface for a class of uncertain dynamic systems with input saturation. Its main objectives are to ensure robustness to parametric and non-parametric uncertainties whilst eliminating the reaching phase. A global nonlinear switching surface is defined and an adaptive barrier function sliding mode control approach is derived. The barrier strategy is adopted to ensure the convergence of the states to the desired values without overestimating the control gains. System stability is analyzed using the Lyapunov stability theory. The control parameters are obtained using the linear matrix inequality (LMI) approach. The control law is designed to remove the reaching phase. The effectiveness of the proposed approach was validated using a simulation study. The proposed control approach can easily be implemented to various nonlinear uncertain systems.

Background. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication regimens have been a concern, all along. Our study is aimed at assessing the effect of para- and probiotics plus minerals (Pyloshot) on H. pylori eradication rate. Methods. In this open-label randomized trial, 69 eligible adult patients with naïve H. pylori infection-related dyspepsia were randomly assigned into the group A, who received esomeprazole 40 mg BID, amoxicillin 1000 mg BID, and clarithromycin 500 mg BID, and group B with the same regimen plus one Pyloshot capsule BID for 10 days. Demographics and dyspepsia symptom severity scores (SSS), number needed to treat (NNT), dyspepsia SSS, and drug adverse effects were recorded at baseline and the end of treatment. H. pylori eradication was confirmed via 14C UBT eight weeks later. Results. Sixty-six patients completed the study. The intention-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP) eradication rates were slightly better in group B (85.2% vs. 80%, p=0.562, and 87.8% vs. 84.8%, p=0.720, respectively). Adverse effects were significantly lower in group B (20.6% vs. 54.3%; p=0.004). No significant differences in dyspepsia symptom improvement rates (p=0.255) and mean difference of SSS (p=0.231) were found between treatment groups. NNT for overall dyspepsia and epigastric pain syndrome (EPS) was 11 and 5 at the end of treatment, respectively. Conclusion. Adding Pyloshot to the H. pylori regimen could slightly improve the eradication rate and SSS of dyspepsia. NNT was considerably better among EPS patients. Adverse effects were significantly decreased by this regimen. Further trials with larger sample sizes should be thought out. This trial is registered with IRCT20141201020178N10.

Author(s): Pelin Aydin [sup.1] [sup.2], Zeynep Berna Aksakalli Magden [sup.2], Sevgi Karabulut Uzuncakmak [sup.3], Hamza Halici [sup.2] [sup.4], Nurullah Akgun [sup.2], Ali Sefa Mendil [sup.5], Behzad Mokhtare [sup.6], Elif Cadirci [...], Aim We demonstrate the effect of PDE5 inhibitors in cases of acute lung injury via the relationship between cGMP/NO and the TLR4-NF-[kappa]B-NLRP3 pathway. Materials and Methods This study was performed with 30 male Wistar albino rats. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was administered intratracheally to the rats and acute lung injury (ALI) was induced. Twelve hours after LPS administration, avanafil, prepared at suitable doses according to the body weights of the animals, was administered by oral gavage. Lung tissue samples of all groups were examined histopathologically and by immunochemical staining (IL-1[beta], iNOS, TLR4, and NF-[kappa]B). The iNOS, NLRP3, and IL-1B mRNA expression levels in the lung tissues were measured by RT-PCR. The left upper lobes of the rat lungs were dried at 70 °C for 48 h and lung water content was calculated. Result Statistically significant increases in iNOS, NLRP3, and IL-1[beta] mRNA expressions were observed in the rats with ALI compared to the healthy controls (p < 0.0001). Those increased expressions were reduced at both doses of avanafil (p < 0.0001). This reduction was found to be greater at 20 mg/kg (p < 0.0001). IL-1[beta], iNOS, TLR4, and NF-[kappa]B immunopositivity was moderate/severe in the ALI group and mild in the group with ALI + avanafil at 20 mg/kg (p < 0.05). When the wet/dry lung ratios were calculated, a statistically significant increase was seen in the ALI group compared to the healthy rats (p < 0.05). That increase was decreased with both avanafil doses (p < 0.05). Conclusion We suggest that avanafil may prevent the progression of ALI and be effective in its treatment. We hope that this study will be supported by future clinical studies to yield a new indication for avanafil.

Due to the lack of favorable response to synthetic drugs, the tendency to use traditional medicine to treat inflammatory bowel disease has risen. We aimed to assess the effect of Cichorium intybus L., Trigonella foenum-graecum L., and Foeniculum vulgare L. on the control of recurrent ulcerative colitis (UC) symptoms. This randomized clinical trial was performed on 60 patients suffering from mild-to-moderate UC. Patients were randomly assigned to control and intervention groups. Patients in both groups were treated with a standard dose of oral mesalazine (3 g daily) for eight weeks. In addition, the intervention group was given a mixture of 200 mg C. intybus, 350 mg T. foenum-graecum, and 1.5 mg F. vulgare (three times a day). The disease activity was evaluated before and 60 days after the intervention using a simple clinical colitis activity index (SCCAI). The baseline mean SCCAI score was similar in both groups. Although the SCCAI score significantly reduced in both groups 60 days after the initial assessment, this reduction was significantly higher in the group receiving the herbal combination than in the control group. The intervention-related side effects, such as bloating and dyspepsia, were well tolerated. The use of C. intybus, T. foenum-graecum, and F. vulgare can effectively control UC symptoms and thus, can be used as an effective and safe medication for treating UC.

Objective(s): This experiment was carried out to investigate the protective effects of curcumin (CUR) on testicular damage induced by the valproic acid (VPA) administration. Materials and Methods: Male Wistar-Albino rats (n=28, 250-300 g) were randomly divided into four groups: Control (1 ml saline, oral), VPA (500 mg/kg, IP), CUR (200 mg/kg, oral), or VPA+CUR (500 mg/kg, VPA, IP plus 200 mg/kg CUR, oral). The treatments were applied for 14 days. Serum testosterone and testis [Janus kinases1 (JAK1), signal transducers and activators of transcription-3 (STAT-3), interleukin-6 (IL-6), malondialdehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a), interleukin-18 (IL-18), and nuclear factor (NF)-κB)] samples were collected for biochemical analyses. Semen samples were subjected to microscopy for spermatological parameters. Testis tissue was also analyzed for histopathological and immunohistochemical methods. Results: The VPA administration caused a 37% decrease in serum testosterone concentration and 5.32, 9.51, 2.44, and 3.68-fold increases in testicular tissue JAK1, STAT-3, IL-6, and MDA levels, respectively. There were also 50, 52, and 72% reductions in sperm motility, sperm viability, and the mean testicular biopsy score, respectively, accompanied by considerable degenerative changes and necrosis in seminiferous tubules in the VPA group. There is also an immune-positive reaction for IL-18 and NF-κB in only Leydig cells. Conclusion: The CUR treatment may be beneficial in restoring testicular damage through antiinflammatory and anti-oxidant potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have examined some effects of administering vitamin D and extract of common nettle (Urtica dioica) to rats with experimentally induced Crohn's disease (CR). Body weight and colon length were lower in the CR group than in normal controls, whereas scores for histopathologic changes seen in sections stained by the H&E and PAS methods were lower in rats with CR than in those that also received either vitamin D (CRD) or nettle extract (CRI). Strong manganese-superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) immunoreactivity was detected in the crypt epithelium of the CR and CRI groups and in the lymphoid tissue of the CRD group. Weak catalase (CAT) immunoreactivity in the crypt epithelium in the CR, CRI, and CRD groups and strong CAT immunoreactivity in the lymphoid tissue in the CR group were also observed. Our results reveal that administering either vitamin D and common nettle extract can have augment Mn-SOD and CAT expression in colon tissues and contribute to alleviation of some complications of experimental Crohn's disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Photobiomodulation with low-intensity laser (LIL) and chondroitinase ABC (ChABC) can repair damaged muscle tissue, so the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of co-administration of these two factors on anal sphincter repair in rabbits. Methods Male rabbits were studied in 5 groups (n = 7): Control (intact), sphincterotomy, laser, ChABC and laser + ChABC. 90 days after intervention were evaluated resting and maximum squeeze pressures, number of motor units, collagen amount, markers of muscle regeneration and angiogenesis. Results Resting pressure in the Laser + ChABC group was higher than the sphincterotomy, laser and ChABC groups (p

Abstract The role of oxidative stress, as well as inflammation in the pathogenesis of methotrexate (MTX)-induced oral mucositis, is a known fact. The anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties of taxifolin—the effect we tested against MTX-induced oral mucosal damage—are well known. Objective Evaluating biochemically and histopathologically the effects of taxifolin on methotrexate-induced oral mucosal damage in rats. Methodology In the taxifolin+MTX (TMTX) group, 50 mg/kg taxifolin was orally administered to rats by gavage. In the MTX and healthy (HG) groups, normal saline was applied to rats as solvent by the same method. One hour after administration of taxifolin and solvent, 5 mg/kg MTX was orally administered to rats in the MTX and TMTX groups. Taxifolin and methotrexate were administered once a day for 30 days. Macroscopic, biochemical, and histopathological evaluations were performed on the inner cheek and tongue tissues of rats. These parts were removed after rats were killed with a high-dose anesthesia. Results Taxifolin with MTX prevented the increase in oxidant and pro-inflammatory parameters, such as malondialdehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin 6 (IL-6), on the inner cheek and tongue tissues of rats. Moreover, taxifolin antagonized the decrease in total glutathione (tGSH). Taxifolin decreased MTX-induced histopathological damage. Conclusion These findings suggest that taxifolin may be useful to treat MTX-associated oral mucositis.

Integration of large‐scale wind farms (WFs) into the grid has to meet the critical constraints set in the national grid code. Wind farm operators (WFOs) are inclined to comply with these constraints and avoid heavy penalty costs for violating such regulations. However, this may result in reduced power sent to the grid. Moreover, the addition of new rules to account for the increased penetration of WFs brings challenges to the profitability of the WFs. A battery energy storage system (BESS), if sized optimally, can be a reliable method to fulfill the grid code requirements without sacrificing profit. This paper provides a techno‐economic model to find the optimal rated capacity and power for a BESS in WFs. This optimization model takes the absolute production and delta production constraints into account. Two approaches are studied for integrating these constraints into the grid code. It is shown that the flexible strategy financially outperforms the strict addition of the new rules. This will be useful, especially to attract investments in wind energy projects despite the abovementioned limitations in the grid code. All the modeling and analysis are done for a potential offshore wind power plant (OWPP) in Turkey. Simulation results show the effectiveness of the optimal BESS in increasing the amount of energy delivered to the grid and improving the profitability of the OWPP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this experimental study we aimed to investigate the biochemical and histopathological effects of concomitantly administered taxifolin on tramadol-induced liver damage in rats. The rats were divided into three groups; control group (CG), tramadol alone (TRG), and taxifolin + tramadol given (TTRG) groups. Malondialdehyde (MDA), total glutathione (tGSH), total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS), nuclear factor-kappa beta (NF-kB), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) levels were measured in liver tissues. Liver tissues were also examined histopathologically. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities were determined in blood samples. In tissue analyses, determinants of oxidative stress and inflammation, all were significantly higher in the TRG group compared with the control and TTRG groups. In the TTRG group, all oxidative stress and inflammation markers were significantly lower than in the TRG group. In addition, there was not any significant difference between the control and TTRG groups regarding the TOS and TAS status. Serum liver enzymes were also significantly higher in the TRG group than in the other two groups. In histopathological examinations, the control group had a normal histological appearance. Degenerative-necrotic hepatocytes and hemorrhage, which were seen at a severe level in the TRG group, were found to be moderate in the treated TTRG group. In addition, mononuclear cell infiltrations were found to be severe in the TRG group and mild in the treated TTRG group. Finally it was concluded that Taxifolin alleviated the toxic effects of tramadol on the liver including the histopathological and biochemical changes as well as the oxidative damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Anal sphincter injury leads to fecal incontinence. Based on the regenerative capability of laser and human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs), this study was designed to assess the effects of co-application of these therapies on anal sphincter recovery after injury. Design Male rabbits were assigned to equal groups (n = 7) including control, sphincterotomy, sphincterotomy treated with laser (660 nm, 90 s, immediately after sphincterotomy, daily, 14 days), hADSCs (2 × 106 hADSCs injected into injured area of the sphincter immediately after sphincterotomy), and laser + hADSCs. Ninety days after sphincterotomy, manometry and electromyography were performed, sphincter collagen content was evaluated, and Ki67, myosin heavy chain (MHC), skeletal muscle alpha-actin (ACTA1), vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), and vimentin mRNA gene expression were assessed. Results The laser + hADSCs group had a higher resting pressure compared with the sphincterotomy (p 0.05). In the laser + hADSCs group, motor unit numbers were higher than those in the laser group (p

Background and aims: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is one of the important public health diseases in Iran. Therefore, to control the prevalence of the disease, knowledge is required regarding the risk factor of HBV. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to determine the risk factors of HB transmission. Methods: A retrospective case-control study was conducted on the possible risk factors of HBV transmission. To this end, a total of 171 patients with HBV infection and 171 controls from Rasoul-eAkram hospital were investigated during 2015-2018. All subjects were directly evaluated using a faceto-face questionnaire about demographic aspects. Finally, HBV infection and its risk factors among the subjects were detected using hepatitis B surface antigen test. Results: Overall, 171 HBV patients including 77 (42%) males and 93 (58%) females were evaluated. The mean age of the participants was 40 ± 13 years. Univariate logistic analysis showed that HBV infection in these cases was associated with addiction injection (odds ratio [OR] = 4.08, CI:1.3- 9.57), family history (OR = 4.52, CI: 1.27-10.7), and having a history of blood transfusion (OR = 3.16, CI: 1.52-5.37). There were no significant relationships between the liver function tests, alcohol consumption, the history of dental visits, and HBV participants. In addition, the logistic-regression model proved that patients with a history of HBV-infected parents (At least one of them) and addiction injection were severely subject to HB infection. In other words, there was a significant association between a history of HBV-infected parents and addiction injection and HB infection. Conclusion: In general, HBV infection was strongly related to having a family member infected with hepatitis B, suffering from addiction injection, and having blood injection.

Mammalian sperm rolling around their longitudinal axes is a long-observed component of motility, but its function in the fertilization process, and more specifically in sperm migration within the female reproductive tract, remains elusive. While investigating bovine sperm motion under simple shear flow and in a quiescent microfluidic reservoir and developing theoretical and computational models, we found that rolling regulates sperm navigation in response to the rheological properties of the sperm environment. In other words, rolling enables a sperm to swim progressively even if the flagellum beats asymmetrically. Therefore, a rolling sperm swims stably along the nearby walls (wall-dependent navigation) and efficiently upstream under an external fluid flow (rheotaxis). By contrast, an increase in ambient viscosity and viscoelasticity suppresses rolling, consequently, non-rolling sperm are less susceptible to nearby walls and external fluid flow and swim in two-dimensional diffusive circular paths (surface exploration). This surface exploration mode of swimming is caused by the intrinsic asymmetry in flagellar beating such that the curvature of a sperm’s circular path is proportional to the level of asymmetry. We found that the suppression of rolling is reversible and occurs in sperm with lower asymmetry in their beating pattern at higher ambient viscosity and viscoelasticity. Consequently, the rolling component of motility may function as a regulatory tool allowing sperm to navigate according to the rheological properties of the functional region within the female reproductive tract.

This paper proposes an adaptive barrier function terminal sliding mode control method for partial seizure based on the Pinsky–Rinzel model. A terminal sliding mode control technique is designed to achieve the convergence of trajectories to the desired value in a finite time, while an adaptive barrier function is used to ensure that the outputs, which are independent of the disturbance boundary, converge to the predetermined zero location. The performance of the proposed approach is checked for the nonlinear two-compartmental Pinsky–Rinzel pyramidal neuron model. The obtained method of the finite time stability, in the presence of uncertainty and disturbance, is proven by the Lyapunov theory. The simulation results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme. Finite time convergence, robustness, chattering-free dynamics and near-zero error are the advantages of the proposed technique.

This paper proposes a linear matrix inequality (LMI)-based fuzzy fast terminal sliding mode control (FFTSM) approach for a multi-input multi-output (MIMO) system. This design aims to achieve the finite-time convergence of system trajectories to their desired values, while at the same time eliminating the chattering problem. Finite-time stability is proven using the Lyapunov theory and the control parameters are obtained using the LMI approach. The fuzzy logic approach is considered to fine tune the controller parameters and reduce the tracking error and control signal amplitude. The performance of the proposed approach is assessed using a simulation study of a direct current (DC) motor. The obtained results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed control design. Simplicity of the design, robustness, finite-time convergence, and chattering-free dynamics are among the features of the proposed approach.

Studies have provided evidence for the effectiveness of intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy (ISTDP) in treating medically unexplained symptoms (MUS). This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of ISTDP on individuals living with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in terms of, emotion regulation (ER) abilities, defense mechanisms, quality of life (QOL), and IBS symptoms. A total of 30 patients diagnosed with IBS were recruited and randomly assigned to either the intervention (n = 15) or control (n = 15) group. Pre- and post-treatment assessments were conducted, along with a follow-up assessment after ten weeks. Repeated measures analyses of variance were employed to analyze the data. The findings revealed that ISTDP led to significant improvements in ER, defense mechanisms, and QOL, as well as a reduction in the severity and frequency of IBS symptoms. These results provide further support for the efficacy of ISTDP as a treatment modality for individuals with IBS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]