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Nowadays, the utilization of sugar substitutes in bakery products can be demanded on the assumption that they are healthier. However, the use of ingredients containing reducing sugars in heat-treated products may increase the formation of some toxic compounds. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the safety of using honey/pekmez as sugar substitutes in bakery products in terms of acrylamide. Acrylamide concentrations as well as the quality characteristics of sponge cakes and cookies containing pekmez/honey as sugar substitutes were determined. Acrylamide levels in sponge cake control group and honey sponge cake samples remained below the limit of detection. However, acrylamide concentrations were determined as 141.36 ± 4.21, 162.82 ± 3.63, and 195.67 ± 0.85 ng/g in samples containing pekmez at percentages of 60%, 80%, and 100% as sugar substitutes in sponge cakes formulations, respectively. While acrylamide was determined as 30.97 ± 4.68 ng/g in cookie control group, concentrations in samples containing pekmez at percentages of 60%, 80%, and 100% as sugar substitutes in formulations were 824.3 ± 27.47, 1274.04 ± 7.59 and 1468.32 ± 55.48 ng/g, respectively. 374.25 ± 19.37, 495.63 ± 2.89, and 598.63 ± 12.95 ng/g acrylamide were detected in the cookie samples containing honey at the aforementioned percentages in formulations. As a result, adding pekmez/honey in bakery products to reduce refined sugar intake can significantly increase acrylamide concentrations of these products. Similar practices made to reduce refined sugar intake can turn into an application that increases exposure to acrylamide, a toxic compound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) V617F gene mutation is an important marker for the diagnosis of Philadelphia negative Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) which is subdivided into Polycythemia Vera (PV), Primary Myelofibrosis (PMF), and Essential Thrombocythemia (ET). The aim here is to investigate the JAK2 allele burden of the patients diagnosed with the subgroups of MPN and to demonstrate the alterations of hematological parameters and spleen size between diagnosis and 6 months of treatment. Methods: A total of 107 patients with the diagnosis of MPN and negative Philadelphia chromosome, 51 males and 56 females with a mean age of 59,74 ± 16,41 years, were included in the study. Diagnosis of MPN was based on the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. Subgroups of MPN distributed as 49,5% ET, 46,7% PV, and 3,8% PMF. Findings such as the age of the patients, JAK-2 allele burden, and laboratory findings of splenomegaly were examined at the time of diagnosis, 3rd month, and 6th month. JAK2 allele burden and spleen size were re-evaluated in 6th month. Results: Our study confirmed the findings of high Hb, HCT, and RBC but low platelet values in PV patients with high JAK2 allele burden with respect to other groups, a positive correlation between JAK2 allele burden and LDH. Conclusions: A novel finding of our study is, that there is not any reducing effect of the phlebotomy on JAK2 allele burden in PV patients whether they receive phlebotomy or not. Evaluation of the spleen size alteration during 6 months within the subgroups demonstrated a decrease in PV and ET groups whereas no statistically significant difference was found in the PMF group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well known in the literature that human behavior can change as a reaction to disease observed in others, and that such behavioral changes can be an important factor in the spread of an epidemic. It has been noted that human behavioral traits in disease avoidance are under selection in the presence of infectious diseases. Here, we explore a complementary trend: the pathogen itself might experience a force of selection to become less “visible,” or less “symptomatic,” in the presence of such human behavioral trends. Using a stochastic SIR agent-based model, we investigated the co-evolution of two viral strains with cross-immunity, where the resident strain is symptomatic while the mutant strain is asymptomatic. We assumed that individuals exercised self-regulated social distancing (SD) behavior if one of their neighbors was infected with a symptomatic strain. We observed that the proportion of asymptomatic carriers increased over time with a stronger effect corresponding to higher levels of self-regulated SD. Adding mandated SD made the effect more significant, while the existence of a time-delay between the onset of infection and the change of behavior reduced the advantage of the asymptomatic strain. These results were consistent under random geometric networks, scale-free networks, and a synthetic network that represented the social behavior of the residents of New Orleans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diffuse optical tomography (DOT) modality uses diffusion equation solution of low power laser distribution in the imaging tissue. DOT method has three main running mode and three geometric subbranches. Run modes are: Continuous Wave (CW), Time Resolved (TR) and Frequency Domain (FD) modes. These run modes might have transmission-through, back-reflected or ring geometry depend on the source and detector placements on tissue surface. In this work, we tested our novel imaging method on the frequency-domain back-reflected DOT simulation model. Our novelty is: selecting a great number of multi-frequency data in the wide frequency spectrum which was not tested before in the literature. Most of the literature works consist of narrow frequency band with the limited number of frequencies such as maximum 12 multi-frequency-data which cover from 100 up to 700 MHz. In our work, we tested and compared reconstructed inclusion images generated by our 500 wide spectrum multi-frequency data versus reconstructed inclusion images generated by 20 narrow band multi-frequency data which was generally used in FD DOT studies. We observed that our novel imaging method which used wide spectrum multi-frequency data is superior to the traditionally used narrow-band multi-frequency method based on the reconstructed inclusion image localization errors. Since most of the homogenous geometry consists of fat tissue, we selected background absorption coefficient µa = 0.2 cm−1 and tissue scattering coefficient μ s = 80 cm−1 for 800 nm laser source wavelength. Three-dimensional cubic imaging simulation media has 75-mm grid sizes in each direction. Two different imaging scenarios were tested. In the first scenario, one inclusion with absorption coefficient µa = 0.7 cm−1 was put inside the three-dimensional imaging geometry at 27 mm depth. In the second scenario one inclusion with absorption coefficient µa = 0.7 cm−1 was embedded in 48 mm depth location. Inclusions are cubic and they have 6 mm xyz length at each direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of the study is to evaluate the effect of limbal autograft location on corneal astigmatism in inferior and superior conjunctival autografted pterygium surgery. Methods: Patients were divided into 2 groups as diagnosed with primary pterygium and planned to receive surgical treatment. Pterygium surgery was performed on 25 patients with superior and 25 patients with inferior limbal autograft who have similar epidemiologic features. Cornea anterior and posterior surface keratometry (K) 1, K2, Kmax, peripheric radius (Rper) (the mean radius of curvature of the 7.0–9.0 mm ring area), refractive astigmatism and axis values, were examined. Corneal irregularity indices were the index of surface variance (ISV), index of vertical asymmetry (IVA, mm), index of height asymmetry (IHA, μm), index of height decentration (IHD, μm). The data were compared pre- and postoperative and the effect of graft location on results was evaluated. Results: K1 which is from the values of the cornea front face has risen after surgery both of superior and inferior groups (p = 0.011). However, no postoperative significant difference was detected in terms of the change. Otherwise, both groups have changed regarding astigmatism and Rper (p < 0.001), but no postoperative significant difference was found in terms of the change. There were not any differences between groups regarding the changes of postoperative back face values. Although there were significant decreases in ISV, IVA, and IHD values in both groups in terms of all corneal surface indices, there was no significant difference between the lower and upper groups in terms of postoperative results (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The effects of pterygium surgery with limbal autograft provide significant improvement on corneal astigmatism. However, we think that the location of the conjunctiva has no effect, but in cases where the bulbar conjunctiva needs to be preserved or cannot be used, the choice of the lower bulbar conjunctiva can achieve successful results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, it was illustrated that extremely high frequency (EHF) Ka-band (26.5–40 GHz) modulated frequency domain diffuse optic tomography biomedical optic imaging modality is superior to the generally accepted 100 MHz modulation frequency case. The effect of modulation frequency was shown with reconstructed images for two different modulation frequency simulation cases. Ka EHF-band frequency range covers 26.5–40 GHz. In this simulation study 33 GHz modulation frequency was selected. Forward model problem photon fluencies were generated for 30 equally separated sequential phase delays. Each phase delay has different photon fluence distributions inside the imaging geometry. 3.1 cm grid sizes were set in the x, y, z cartesian grid coordinate system with 31 × 31 × 31 xyz grid elements. To test the advantage of EHF-band modulation frequecy, inverse problem solution algorithm was done and inclusion images were reconstructed for each modulation frequency simulation case. Original inclusion was embedded inside the imaging geometry at (15–16, 15–16, 15–16) x, y, z coordinate system in the three-dimensional (3D) cubic spatial form. Homogeneuous tissue background photon absorption, scattering, and anisotropy coefficients were selected as µa = 0.1 cm−1, µs = 100 cm−1, and g = 0.9. Four sources and four detectors were placed on the back-reflection geometry. Forward model problem was built between sources, voxels, and detectors. Forward model problem photon fluencies were generated based on the diffusion equation approximation of the radiative transport equation formula in the frequency domain. Original inclusion was reconstructed by simply applying mathematical pseudoinverse problem solution function. It was observed that, reconstructed inclusion image at the 33 GHz Ka-band modulation frequency simulation case is superior to the reconstructed inclusion image at the 100 MHz modulation frequency simualtion case. Since there are too many frequency selection opportunities, the best Ka-band frequency was selected to demonstrate here. Thus, 33 GHz and 100 MHz modulation frequencies were tested against each other. These two different electronic modulation frequencies were tested and compared with each other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Diffuse Optical Tomography (DOT) imaging modality is an interesting research field for researchers since it has uncertainties in the solution space. DOT imaging modality is an unsolved scientific problem. Inverse problem solution and image reconstruction have never been of their best quality. Reconstructed images have low spatial resolution. The scattering nature of low-energized diffusive light is the obscuring effect for DOT modality. DOT has 3 functional sub-branches which are Continuous Wave, Time-Resolved, and Frequency-Domain. In this work, one new approach to Frequency Domain Diffuse Optical Tomography (FDDOT) biomedical optic imaging modality is presented to the readers. Frequency shifting data were added to the forward model problem which has source-detector couplings and several imaging voxels. 100 MHz center core light modulation frequency was selected as modulation frequency. 169 source-detector matches were used on back-reflected imaging geometry. Absorption coefficient µa was selected 0.1 cm−1. Scattering coefficient µs was selected 100 cm−1. 1-µm x, y, z cartesian grid coordinates were used in each direction for imaging tissue-like simulation media. A total of 100 frequency shifts were added to the forward model problem which has 5 Hz frequency step. 2 inclusion objects were embedded inside the imaging simulation phantom to be reconstructed. Their optical absorption coefficient µa = 0.7 cm−1. Two inclusion images were successfully reconstructed with the low contrast to noise ratio (CNR) and position error. The frequency shifting technique is first applied for FDDOT here in this work. This technique increased the total number of equations in the forward model problem; hence it is helping to solve the inverse problem more accurately. In this work, the positive effect of using frequency shifting methodology was observed. Differentiation of 2 embedded inclusions was completed and illustrated in this work. Two different scenarios were compared with each other. In the first scenario, only 100 MHz center core frequency was used for one source-detector match. In the second scenario, 100 additional shifted frequencies over 100 MHz center core frequency were added. It was seen that the second scenario which has more frequency shifts is superior to the general concept FDDOT methodology. This work shows that the frequency shift technique might be used for future FDDOT devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diffuse optic imaging is an important biomedical optic research tool. Diffuse optic tomography (DOT) modality needs progressive philosophical approaches for scientific contribution. Technological developments and philosophical approaches should both go forward. Phase-shift based frequency domain diffuse optical tomography (FDDOT) method was well established in the literature. The instruments were tested for brain neurofunctional imaging. A mixture of AC laser intensity and phase data were used at these works. According to those works, deep tissue resolution was improved by only using phase data. Because phase data is only related to the photon mean free path in imaging tissue media. Besides this advantage, laser intensity data is also affected by noisy background light and electrical artifacts. Another most important advantage of only using phase data can be explained as time-resolved temporal change which can be directly related to the phase shift of modulated frequency source. In this work, the FDDOT imaging method which uses phase shift data were tested for simulation. Laser source-driven forward model problem weight matrix simulation data was given to the simple pseudo-inverse-based inverse problem solution algorithm for one inclusion example. The inclusion image was reconstructed and demonstrated successfully. Forward model problem weight functions inside the tissue simulation media were calculated and used based on the phase shifts at the same core modulation frequency. 100 MHz modulation frequency was selected due to its FDDOT standard. 13 sources and 13 detectors were placed on the back-reflected imaging surface. 40 x, y, z cartesian coordinate grid elements were used in the image reconstruction algorithm. Photon absorption coefficient: μa = 0.1 cm−1, and scattering coefficient: μs = 100 cm−1 values were set for simulation background. One inclusion object was embedded inside the background imaging tissue simulation environment. x, y, z cartesian coordinate grid sizes were selected for 1 μm for each direction. Photon phase shift fluencies were added to the forward model problem. The forward model problem was built according to the frequency domain photon migration diffusion equation (DE) approximation. The pseudoinverse mathematical inverse problem solution function was applied to test the results. The embedded inclusion object was reconstructed successfully with the high-resolution image quality. The philosophical approach has future promising DOT imaging capability. The phase shift version of the FDDOT modality has an important advantage for future purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The applied heat level and expose time are main issues in certain operations/applications, such as a laser assisted tissue welding, preparation of collagen-based biomaterials (films, implants). Therefore, the precise investigation of these parameters is crucial. The results can serve as a guideline to assess potential effects while maintaining the functionality of the collagen structures. Methods: Collagen tissues from rat-tail tendon, calfskin, and bones are soaked in buffer solutions, then examined by microscope at different temperature levels. Results: Increase in temperature reduced the microscopically observed collagen crimp contrast for calfskin and rat-tail tendons but not for bone tissues. The contrast level for rat tail tendon decreased down to 80% of its initial value at 37, 157, and 266 s for 70, 65, and 60 °C, respectively. The decrease in the crimp contrast was about only 25% and 2% at 55 and 50 °C after 2 h, respectively. 50% drop in contrast level was occurred for the skin samples at 16, 90, 110 and 1900 s for 70, 65, and 60 °C, respectively. The bone samples, did not show any significant differences in contrast levels. Conclusion: The observed denaturation behaviours are in line with Arrhenius Law. This study could be expanded on to other types of tissues at wider temperature ranges to make a guideline for biological/medical processes that radiate heat in order to assess their side effects on collagen and other proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To measure lens densities with a Pentacam HR device in patients with active uveitis. Measurements were taken at the onset of the attack and after the treatment of inflammation. Methods: The study included 51 eyes with different anterior uveitis aetiologies and a control group of 48 eyes of age- and gender-matched healthy subjects. Lens densitometry measurements were taken with a Scheimpflug camera on a Pentacam HR device. All the examinations and measurements were performed on the first presentation with the onset of the attack and were repeated at 1st and 3rd months after treatment. Lens densitometry measurements were compared with those of the healthy control group and the healthy fellow eyes of the uveitic patients. Results: No statistically significant difference was determined between the groups in respect of age and gender (p > 0.05). At 3 months, Pentacam densitometry of zones 3 value was determined to be significantly high in the uveitic eyes compared to the healthy eyes (p = 0.018). The average lens density value (ALD) at 1 month was statistically significantly higher than the baseline value in the uveitic eyes (p = 0.034). There was no significant change in the ALD value at 3 months compared to the baseline and 1-month values (p = 0.386, p = 0.736, respectively). Conclusion: Even if there is no cataract development that can be clinically observed in eyes with anterior uveitis, lens density in zone 3 showed a significant increase at the end of 3 months compared to the baseline value. This change can be evaluated objectively with Scheimpflug imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, time resolved (TR) Monte Carlo (MC) simulation program code was run to generate photon fluencies with increasing time steps. TR MC simulation was performed for ten time series from 4 ps to 52 ps. Generated photon fluencies were transferred to the image analysis programming platform. Imaging device geometry was created for test purpose in image reconstruction programming platform environment. Forward model weight matrix functions were calculated during each time period for 38 sources, and 38 detectors according to the back-reflected imaging geometry. A homogenous phantom, which simulated tissue, was chosen. Depending on the homogeneous tissue optical properties, such as tissue absorption coefficient μa, and tissue scattering coefficient μs, photons emitted from the laser source positions; migrated differently inside the imaging tissue. Photons migrate inside the tissue by some multiplication factor of ps depending on the tissue type for each 100-micrometer vertical distance. Superficial photons come photodetector point fast, depend on the source-detector neighborhood distances and tissue optical properties, respectively. Time resolved diffuse optic tomography (TRDOT) imaging systems are an emerging biomedical optic imaging modality due to progressive electronic technologies are helping to build the systems faster and cheap. As such, emerging microelectronic technology is giving important access to design and implement compact laser sources and photodetector units. Vertical cavity surface emitting light (VCSEL) as laser source and single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) arrays as photodetector units are becoming in common use as important hardware tools for designers and researchers in this field. TR diffuse photon analysis should be done routinely for better understanding of TRDOT devices. Hence, MC simulation driven TR photon fluence analysis was done for such a purpose in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eastern Black Sea Region of Turkey is a sub-ecoregion of the Caucasus Ecoregion, and its Plecoptera fauna is similar to fauna of Caucasus with unique endemic species of the region. The Caucasus Ecoregion is one of the 'WWF Global 200 Ecoregions,' and it is also included in the list of top 25 hotspots in the World. Running water ecosystems of Eastern Black Sea sub-ecoregion are the most sensitive to land use change and global climate change. High-altitude aquatic ecosystems are more strongly threatened by global climate change in the region. Plecoptera constitute the most important part of the biodiversity of running waters in the region. Among the benthic macroinvertebrate taxa, Plecoptera is the best indicator of ecological conditions of running waters. The influence of environmental variables on the distribution of twenty Plecoptera species in running water ecosystems (headwaters, crenon, epirhithron, metarhithron) was assessed using canonical correspondence analysis. Sampling was carried out in 2009 and 2011. Eleven end groups were generated from the TWINSPAN analysis. Isoperla rhododendri, Isoperla grammatica, Protonemura bifida, Protonemura eumontana and Perla caucasica were closely related to pH, dissolved oxygen and riparian vegetation. Brachyptera transcaucasica transcaucasica, Nemoura martynovia, Nemoura taurica and Protonemura eumontana were related to Mg and Cu. The results show that the Plecoptera assemblage composition was affected by DO, pH, EC, temperature, nitrite, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn, Al, riparian vegetation, altitude and stream width. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study the capacitive charge model approach has been explored to evaluate depth information of continuous wave (CW) diffuse optical tomography (DOT) systems. CW DOT systems have two geometric data acquisition structures depending on the laser source and photo-detector placements on the device surfaces. These geometries are transmission through and back reflection types. Most of the scanning geometries do not allow transmission through measurements. Hence, researchers had been trying to make more reliable back reflected CW DOT imaging systems for almost 30 years. Some researchers and companies had been using the mixture of transmission through and back reflection geometry models which is also equivalent to ring model. Ring model has been normally used for breast and newborn head imaging. The exponentially decaying nature of light gives less information about depth of scanning view for back reflected DOT devices. Diffusing light loses its energy along the depth profile. Back reflected escaping diffuse light involves less information about deeper voxels of interesting tissue or tissue like phantoms. On the other hand transmission through geometry uses only one depth surface thus giving more accurate information. In this work back reflected DOT geometry has been mimicked as a capacitor. Instead of electron accumulation versus time we used photon accumulation versus depth. The forward model transport matrix was built according to the time independent diffusion equation. One source and five different detector position's experimental measurement data were acquired by multifiber spectrometers and simultenously acquired from homogenous and heterogenous multilayered, solid, sylindirical, silicon phantoms. Five different distance, heterogenous multilayer, detector's data have been divided over five homogenous detector's data to generate perturbation data. Perturbation data and the forward model weight matrix have been used to recover heterogenous, absorption differences from the homogenous medium and then two dimensional image has been constructed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Back reflection continuous wave diffuse optical tomography (CWDOT) systems use forward model photon fluence rate distributions for inverse problem solution to be able to reconstruct images. Forward model weight functions are also known as photon fluence rate distributions inside the homogenous media. The linearized equation systems are used for CWDOT imaging. To be able to recover the unknown delta absorption coefficients over background inside the homogenous media linearized equation system has to be solved. In this work the forward model weight matrix functions have been calculated according to the photon distribution of radiative transport equation in theoretical physics. After the forward model is set, the mathematical inverse problem solution methods have to be applied. In literature, the solution of linearized CWDOT equation systems are nonlinear methods but they have never been popular. The main goal of this study is to be able to show alternative weight matrix generation method. The weight matrix generation is very important for linearized CWDOT systems. The Monte Carlo (MC) simulations have been used to create the weight matrix by using the radiation transport problem solution via Rytov or Born approximation. The photon is sent into the tissue, the step distances of each photons are computed and the scattering angles of photons have to be known. It is calculated by occurrence probability for each voxel by the Henyey-Greenstein phase function. The generated MC simulation data is migrated from the simulation environment to the image reconstruction algorithm environment. The weight matrix is successively generated by explained translational method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have designed a continuous wave, back-reflection diffuse optical tomography system; and developed a new practical calibration method including both optode efficiency and positional error corrections. System design, data acquisition and calibration protocols are described in detail. Monte Carlo (MC) simulations of photon distribution for tissue phantoms have been used to obtain the weight matrix to be used in the Rytov approximation to the photon diffusion equation. The system has been evaluated by acquiring data from a tissue phantom with a background scattering coefficient ( $$\upmu _{\mathrm{s}}^{\prime }$$ ) of $$10\,\hbox {cm}^{-1}$$ and absorption coefficient ( $$\upmu _{\mathrm{a}})$$ of $$0.04\,\hbox {cm}^{-1}$$ . An inclusion made of 1 % Intralipid and indocyanine green with $$\upmu _{s}^{\prime }=10\,\hbox {cm}^{-1}$$ and $$\upmu _{\mathrm{a}}= 0.16\,\hbox {cm}^{-1}$$ was placed at a 2 cm depth from the tissue phantom surface. After calibration, the average value of the measurements over source-detector pairs at the same distance for each neighborhood was calculated. Perturbation data were obtained by subtracting the average data from the measurements with the same source-detector separation. In the reconstruction, weight matrixes obtained from MC simulation for $$\upmu _{\mathrm{s}}^{\prime }= 7$$ to $$12\,\hbox {cm}^{-1}$$ were used. The Depth Compensation Algorithm was used in the Tikhonov regularization to identify the location of the inclusion correctly in the reconstruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Nonlinear dynamic responses of a laminated hybrid composite plate subjected to time-dependent pulses are investigated. Dynamic equations of the plate are derived by the use of the virtual work principle. The geometric nonlinearity effects are taken into account with the von Kármán large deflection theory of thin plates. Approximate solutions for a clamped plate are assumed for the space domain. The single term approximation functions are selected by considering the nonlinear static deformation of plate obtained using the finite element method. The Galerkin Method is used to obtain the nonlinear differential equations in the time domain and a MATLAB software code is written to solve nonlinear coupled equations by using the Newmark Method. The results of approximate-numerical analysis are obtained and compared with the finite element results. Transient loading conditions considered include blast, sine, rectangular, and triangular pulses. A parametric study is conducted considering the effects of peak pressure, aspect ratio, fiber orientation and thicknesses. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We report a 20-year-old male patient who was admitted to our emergency clinic after a traffic accident and who suffered from neck pain. Radiographic examination of the cervical spine showed hypertrophy of the left lamina and hypertrophy and elongation of the left spinous process of the sixth cervical vertebra (C6). A computed tomography scan revealed the associated schisis of the spinous process at the same level. Magnetic resonance imaging scan demonstrated no abnormality of the neural elements. The patient underwent a surgical operation due to persistent neck pain and the local aesthetic abnormality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study was undertaken to assess the value of neutrophils CD11b, CD64, and CD62L for the early diagnosis of neonatal infection. Methods: Eighty-four neonates who were followed up for a suspected neonatal infection were included in this study. They were assigned into an infection group ( n=49) and a non-infection group ( n=35). Healthy neonates served as controls ( n=35). A full sepsis screening was performed and neutrophil and monocyte expressions of CD11b, CD64 and CD62L were determined by flow cytometry. Results: The expressions of CD64 and CD11b were significantly enhanced in the infection group compared to the non-infective group and the controls. Conclusions: CD64 expression on neutrophils and monocytes is a useful diagnostic marker for the early diagnosis of neonatal infection. Combination of CD64, CD11b and C reactive protein further enhances the sensitivity of the expression and its negative predictive value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our aim in this paper is to introduce and study a new sort of fuzzy sublattice (ideal, filter) of a lattice called (∈ , ∈ ∨ q) -fuzzy sublattice (ideal, filter). These fuzzy sublattices (ideals, filters) are characterized by their level sublattices (ideals, filters). Finally, we give a generalization of (∈ , ∈ ∨ q) -fuzzy sublattices (ideals, filters). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In addition to mechanical functions, bones have an essential role in metabolic activity as mineral reservoirs that are able to absorb and release ions. Bioapatite, considered the major component in the mineralized part of mammalian bones, is a calcium phosphate mineral with a structure that closely resembles hydroxyapatite (HA, Ca10[PO4]6[OH]2) with variable chemical substitutions. It is important to note that it continues to be chemically active long after it has been initially deposited. Detailed understanding of changes in the mineral phase as HA matures is essential for understanding how normal bone achieves its remarkable mechanical performance, how it is altered in disease, as well as the effects of therapeutic interventions. A model system for investigation of the in vivo maturation of HA is available, namely, the in vitro conversion of amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) to HA in a supersaturated solution of calcium and phosphate ions. In the present study, this system was employed to correlate with the changes in chemistry and poorly crystalline HAP crystal size, shape, and habit. The results of the X-ray diffraction as well as Raman analyses showed that as the crystallites mature in the 002 and 310 directions both the full width at half-height and wavelength at maximum of the Raman peaks change as a function of reaction extent and crystallite maturation, size, and shape. Moreover, such analyses can be performed in intact bone specimens through Raman microspectroscopic and imaging analyses with a spatial resolution of 0.6–1 μ, by far superior to the one offered by other microspectroscopic techniques, thus potentially yielding important new information on the organization and mineral quality of normal and fragile bone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The upper Miocene non-marine sediments of the Çankiri-Çorum basin in central Anatolia, have both evaporitic and non-evaporitic successions. These sediments were deposited in an evaporitic lake which had temporary episodes of palustrine conditions in response to seasonal or climatic changes. The successions show different facies such as sulfates, carbonates and siliciclastics. The sulfates comprise primary, reworked and diagenetic gypsum. The primary deposits are predominantly laminated gypsum, bedded gypsum and selenite. The reworked (detrital) gypsum comprises gypsite, gypsarenite, gypsrudite and breccias. The diagenetic type comprises micro- and macrogypsum nodules. The carbonates mainly include clayey limestone, oolitic limestone and dolomite. The siliciclastics comprise red beds and both channel and non-channel, conglomerates and mudstones. Laminated gypsum, composed of alternating gypsum and dolomite, was a result of environmental schizohalinity. Bedded gypsum was precipitated in the deeper part of the lake during high evaporation periods. Chevron-type selenite crystals formed on saline mud flats during the times of aridity, whereas the discoidal-type seen in the organic-rich mudstones occurred in the gypsiferous marshes during the times of humidity. Reworked (detrital) gypsum dominates the lake margin. These formed during periodic wet episodes that caused reworking of primary gypsum. Gypsum nodules occurred as both early and late diagenetic products. Carbonates and siliciclastics were deposited during the freshening periods of the lake. Climatic or seasonal changes were the main causes of the depositional styles of the upper Miocene evaporitic and non-evaporitic lacustrine deposits in Çankiri-Çorum basin. Additionally, the transition upward from alluvial to lake environment implies an important change in drainage patterns that likely occurred as a result of marginal fault activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three different compositions of butene–ethylene copolymer composites reinforced by polyethylene fibers and produced by filament winding are potentially suitable for biomedical applications. This study examines the effect of various processing and finishing conditions and of sterilization on the extent and composition of surface oxidation. An XPS analysis revealed only insignificant differences between the various treatments, while fibroblast cell attachment tests indicated good attachment with no signs of cytotoxity or cell degeneration for any of the materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Filament wound flat strip composites of polyethylene fiber reinforced polyolefins arepresented and studied. The versatility of this product is demonstrated by involving different polyolefin compositions based on ethylene-butene copolymers with a range of fiber volume fractions and various winding angles. The mechanical performance of the composite product agrees with standard theoretical predictions for angle-ply composites, while the dynamic mechanical analysis reflects the viscoelastic nature of the matrix. In particular, the branching density of the polyolefin backbone, expressed by the β-transition peak, dominates the dynamic mechanical behavior. The feasibility of a potential biomedical application is discussed based on process variable optimization, resulting in a specific combination of static and viscoelastic properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The burrowing activity of annelids controls the spatial pattern and rapid formation of large desiccation cracks in the river flood-derived mud cover in recently inundated farmland areas in northwestern Anatolia, Turkey. The phenomenon is confirmed by laboratory experiments imitating the natural floodplain conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract. In the present work, the effect of thin films of YBa[sub 2]Cu[sub 3]O[sub 7-x] complex compound on the mesomorphic and orientational properties of thermotropic nematic liquid crystals has been studied. Homogeneous, stable and reproducible homeotropic and tilted oriented textures of nematic liquid crystals were obtained. The effect of YBa[sub 2]Cu[sub 3]O[sub 7-x] thin films on the morphologic, orientational and optical properties of thermotropic nematic liquid crystals are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of inorganic salt on temperature dependent changes of the electrical conductivity of Nd and Nc lyotropic nematic mesophases consisting of disc like and rod like micelles has been investigated. It has been found from the temperature dependence of the electrical conductivity that the lyotropic and thermotropic phase transitions shifted to lower temperatures by addition of NH4Br. Addition of the salt stimulates the formation of oriented textures of Nd and Nc mesophases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a material of fifty cases of chronic prostatitis the effectiveness of antibiotic susceptibility tests has been evaluated in the management of bacterial prostatitis. Limitations of the therapy are discussed, and factors effecting drug diffusion across the prostatic membrane are reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Time resolved inclusion investigation method has been tested based on the Monte Carlo Modeling of Light (MCML) Transport. Seven layers head structure has been built. Tissue layers are hair 100 µm, epidermis 100 µm, dermis 1 mm, skull 5 mm, cerebrospinal fluid 5 mm, gray matter 5 mm, and up to 3 cm overly thick white matter. MCML photon fluencies have been used to generate time resolved input angle forward model sensitivity weight matrix. Forward model weight matrix has been built according to the back reflected diffuse optical tomography (DOT) device model geometry. The new, triangulated input angle photon penetration model which is correlated to time resolved mode for continuous wave light has been used first. 1 source and 299 detectors were placed on the 3 cm by 3 cm grid model. Number of z Nz, and number of x Nx grid coordinates are 299 by 299. This work was done to prepare for Programmable Delay Chip (PDC) circuit included analog current input digital voltage output analog to digital converter (ADC) chip. By the help of PDC circuit, continuous wave (CW) photons which cross from different depth layers will be collected in different integrating time intervals by the capability of PDC circuit. In the simulation model, blood inclusion was buried into skull in approximately 1.8 mm depth. As long as employing the measurement capability of PDC circuit, different depth level voxels would be scanned. In this work, with the presumable existence of PDC data, an image reconstruction algorithm has been developed. The inverse problem solution has been done by pseudoinverse matrix solution method. Forward model sensitivity weight matrix functions have been calculated and used in image reconstruction algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, new image reconstruction schema has been proposed for back-reflected diffuse optical tomography geometry. 100 source and 100 detector points have been selected as bifurcated probe positions in xy plane. An x, y, and z cubic coordinate grid system has 10 × 10 × 30 mesh grids. In this work, a dynamic mesh grid concept has been introduced first. Each time source and detector positions are changed, x and y coordinate positions have been reassigned automatically. Centers between source and detector positions have been recalculated in xy plane. x and y grid positions have been reassigned around this center points. When using predefined static mesh grid photon fluencies which are coming from Monte Carlo (MC) simulation output or diffusion equation are transferred into static voxels which is only partially correct. Hence there is no symmetry around source-detector matchup center in xy plane and so is not totally correct. In this work, dynamic mesh grids have been created and photon fluencies have been assigned into automatically redefined dynamic mesh grid voxels. One dimensional depth profile has been used for simplicity. Median values of transport functions for each z depth grids have been used. Transport functions of photon fluencies from each source to detector positions have been calculated and each voxel value has been assigned in three dimensional dynamic mesh grid array. We innovated the use of dynamic mesh grid array instead of using static mesh grids which were being used previously, and now have assigned the photon fluencies into the dynamic mesh grid voxels. This also gave us an opportunity to use different transport functions for one dimensional image reconstruction schema. Before, we were using the sum of transport weight functions which are derived from each of the z depth layers. Now we have opportunity to use mean or median values also. Thus we are centering the dynamic mesh grid array by finding the center of each source and detector position successfully. This work gave us encouragement to build tomography devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The silica skeleton of the deep-sea sponge Euplectella aspergillum was recently shown to be structured over at least six levels of hierarchy with a clear mechanical functionality. In particular, the skeleton is built of laminated spicules that consist of alternating layers of silica and organic material. In the present work, we investigated the micromechanical properties of the composite material in spicules of Euplectella aspergillum and the giant anchor spicule of Monorhaphis chuni. Organic layers were visualized by backscattered electron imaging in the environmental scanning electron microscope. Raman spectroscopic imaging showed that the organic layers are protein-rich and that there is an OH-enrichment in silica near the central organic filament of the spicule. Small-angle x-ray scattering revealed the presence of nanospheres with a diameter of only 2.8 nm as the basic units of silica. Nanoindentation showed a considerably reduced stiffness of the spicule silica compared to technical quartz glass with different degrees of hydration. Moreover, stiffness and hardness were shown to oscillate as a result of the laminate structure of the spicules. In summary, biogenic silica from deep-sea sponges has reduced stiffness but an architecture providing substantial toughening over that of technical glass, both by structuring at the nanometer and at the micrometer level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]