Learning differential diagnosis of erythemato-squamous diseases using voting feature intervals

A new classification algorithm, called VFI5 (for Voting Feature Intervals), is developed and applied to problem of differential diagnosis of erythemato-squamous diseases. The domain contains records of patients with known diagnosis. Given a training set of such records, the VFI5 classifier learns how to differentiate a new case in the domain. VFI5 represents a concept in the form of feature intervals on each feature dimension separately. classification in the VFI5 algorithm is based on a real-valued voting. Each feature equally participates in the voting process and the class that receives the maximum amount of votes is declared to be the predicted class. The performance of the VFI5 classifier is evaluated empirically in terms of classification accuracy and running time.     

Restoration of the Golden Horn Estuary (Halic)

Restoration of the iconic Golden Horn Estuary in Istanbul, Turkey was a substantial political, logistical, ecological, and social challenge. Forty years of uncontrolled industrial and urban growth resulted in thick layers of anoxic sediment, toxic bacteria, strong hydrogen sulfide odor, and ecologically unlivable conditions. The major components of restoration, spanning two decades, have included (1) demolition and relocation of industries and homes along the shore, (2) creation of wastewater infrastructure, (3) removal of anoxic sludge from the estuary, (4) removal of a floating bridge that impeded circulation, and (5) creation of cultural and social facilities. Although Turkey is not known as an environmental leader in pollution control, the sum of these efforts was largely successful in revitalizing the area through dramatic water quality improvement. Consequently, the estuary is once again inhabitable for aquatic life as well as amenable to local resource users and foreign visitors, and Istanbul has regained a lost sense of cultural identity. This paper focuses on literature review and personal interviews to discuss the causes of degradation, solutions employed to rehabilitate the estuary, and subsequent physicochemical, ecological, and social changes.     

Binding of methyl orange or ethyl orange dyes by some dioxolane copolymers: Synthesis of the copolymers and thermodynamics of the dye–copolymer interactions

The extent of binding of methyl orange or ethyl orange by (2‐phenyl‐1,3‐dioxolane‐4‐yl) methyl methacrylate (PDMMA), 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), and vinyl‐pyrrolidone (VPy) copolymers has been investigated by the equilibrium dialysis method. The dialysis experiments have been carried out in a Tris (hydroxy methyl) aminomethane buffer (pH = 7) and at the temperatures of 15, 25, and 35°C. The PDMMA‐co‐HEMA and PDMMA‐co‐VPy copolymers have been prepared in the laboratory by using the related monomers in different ratios. The synthesized products were analyzed by Fourier Transform‐infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR) spectroscopy, differential thermal analysis (DTA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) techniques. The binding extent of the dyes by the copolymers was determined by ultraviolet (UV) absorbance measurements. The results indicate that the extent of binding is relatively higher for ethyl orange than that for methyl orange under identical conditions. The binding slightly decrease with increasing temperature, and it is accompanied with favorable free energy, and exothermic enthalpy change within the temperature range studied. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 92: 3355–3361, 2004     

A clustering-based approach for the evaluation of candidate emerging technologies

Scientometrics - The aim of this study is to propose a clustering-based approach based on patent information for the evaluation of candidate emerging technologies. The proposed approach uses patent...     

Electrical charge transport and optical properties of a poly(methacrylate) with a new side chain and its Ni(II) complex

The electronic conductivity of poly[2‐(2‐hydroxybenzyliden hydrazino)thiazole‐4‐yl methyl methacrylate] bearing a thiazole ring, Schiff base, and hydroxyl group in its side chain and its Ni(II) complex were measured as functions of temperature and frequency. The electrical measurements show the semiconducting nature of the samples as their electrical conductivity increased with increased temperature. Also, the activation energies were below 2 eV, which places them in the semiconductor regime. The conduction mechanism in the samples is discussed. Although extrinsic conduction mechanism occurs in the polymer, intrinsic conduction mechanism take places in its metal complex. The optical absorption spectra were recorded at room temperature and the optical energy gaps of samples were determined by optical spectra. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 87: 741–746, 2003     

Corrosion characteristics of Alloy AZ63 in buffered neutral solutions

The polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy techniques were used to analyze the corrosion behavior of Alloy AZ63 (6% Al and 3% Zn) in H₃PO₄/KOH buffered K₂SO₄ solution at pH 7. The presence of β phase resulted in formation of the deeper localized corrosion regions in as-cast AZ63. The oxide layer formed on homogenized AZ63 was estimated to be more continuous and protective. The middle frequency capacitive loop, which appeared at corrosion potential, in the impedance spectra arose from the relaxation of the mass transport of magnesium dissolution products in the solid oxide phase. Both the galvanic interactions between the micro-structural constituents and the stability of the partially protective oxide layer were estimated to control the corrosion characteristics of Alloy AZ63.