MedicoPort: a medical search engine for all

We present a new next generation domain search engine called MedicoPort. MedicoPort is a medical search engine designed for the users with no medical expertise. It is enhanced with the domain knowledge obtained from Unified Medical Language System (UMLS) to increase the effectiveness of the searches. The power of the system is based on the ability to understand the semantics of web pages and the user queries. MedicoPort transforms a keyword search into a conceptual search. Through our system we present a topical web crawling technique and indexing techniques empowered by the semantics information. MedicoPort aims to generate maximum output with semantic value using minimum input from the user. Since MedicoPort is designed to help people seeking information about health on the web, our target users are not medical specialists who can effectively use the special jargon of medicine and access medical databases. Medical experts have the advantage of shrinking the answer set by expressing several terms using medical terminology. MedicoPort provides the same advantage to its users through the automated use of the medical domain knowledge in the background. The results of our experiments indicate that, expanding the queries with domain knowledge, such as using the synonyms and partially or contextually relevant terms from UMLS, increase dramatically the relevance of an answer set produced by MedicoPort and the number of retrieved web pages that are relevant to the user request.     

Proposals for creative uses of computer graphics in architectural design

Computer graphics are used by architects mainly for presentation purposes. However, the rapid pace of the development of computer technology enables more creative applications. This research proposes the use of dynamically simulated computer graphics as an evaluation tool for architectural design. Since buildings are living entities, whole life cycles of buildings should be dynamically simulated in highly visualised virtual environments to evaluate the future performance of prospective designs. Two areas that seem especially promising for near future (evaluation of user-building interaction and visualisation of environmental factors) are mentioned and some proposals are presented for the future use of dynamic simulations in virtual environments.     

Pyrolysis of giant mullein (Verbascum thapsus L.) in a fixed-bed reactor: Effects of pyrolysis parameters on product yields and character

Slow pyrolysis of giant mullein (Verbascum thapsus L.) stalks have been carried out in a fixed-bed tubular reactor with (Al₂O₃, ZnO) and without catalyst at four different temperatures between 400 to 550°C with a constant heating rate of 50°C/min and with a constant sweeping gas (N₂) flow rate of 100 cm³/min. The amounts of bio-char, bio-oil, and gas produced were calculated and the compositions of the obtained bio-oils were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The effects of pyrolysis parameters, such as temperature and catalyst, on the product yields were investigated. The results show that both temperature and catalyst have significant effects on the conversion of Verbascum thapsus L. into solid, liquid, and gaseous products. The highest liquid yield of 40.43% by weight including the aqeous phase was obtained with 10% zinc oxide catalyst at 500°C temperature. Sixty-seven different products were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in the bio-oils obtained at 500°C temperature.     

Supercritical liquefaction of common reed (Phragmites australis) with alkali catalysts

Milled Phragmites australis was liquefied in organic solvents with and without catalyst in a cylindrical reactor at temperatures of 533, 553, and 573 K under supercritical conditions. The liquefied compounds were extracted with diethyl ether and benzene using an extraction procedure. The product yields without catalyst in supercritical methanol, ethanol, and acetone were found to be 55.4%, 64.4%, and 73.5% at 573 K respectively. The highest conversion to liquid products was obtained in supercritical acetone with 10% sodium hydroxide as catalyst at the same temperature in the catalytic runs. Main chemical compounds present in the liquid products obtained in ethanol without catalyst and acetone with sodium hydroxide catalyst at 573 K were analyzed and characterized by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS).     

Platelet‐to‐lymphocyte ratio better predicts inflammation than neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio in end‐stage renal disease patients

Neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was introduced as a potential marker to determine inflammation in end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. Recently, platelet‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and NLR were found to positively correlated with inflammatory markers including tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) and interleukin (IL)‐6 in cardiac and noncardiac patients. Data regarding PLR and its association with inflammation are lacking in hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. Hence, we aimed to determine the relationship between PLR, NLR, and inflammation in ESRD patients. This was a cross‐sectional study involving 62 ESRD patients (29 females, 33 males; mean age, 49.6 ± 14.6 years) receiving PD or HD for ≥6 months in the Dialysis Unit of Necmettin Erbakan University. PLR, NLR, C‐reactive protein, TNF‐α, IL‐6 levels were measured. PLR, NLR, serum high sensitive C‐reactive protein, IL‐6, and TNF‐α levels were significantly higher in PD patients when compared with HD patients. ESRD patients with PLR ≥ 140 had significantly higher NLR, IL‐6, and TNF‐α levels when compared to patients with PLR < 139. In the bivariate correlation analysis, PLR was positively correlated with NLR, IL‐6, and TNF‐α in this population. When we compared the association of PLR and NLR with IL‐6 (r = 0.371, P = 0.003 vs. r = 0.263, P = 0.04, respectively) and TNF‐α (r = 0.334, P = 0.008 vs. r = 0.273, P = 0.032, respectively), PLR was found to be superior to NLR in terms of inflammation in ESRD patients. Simple calculation of PLR can predict inflammation better than NLR in ESRD patients.     

Nanoflower hydroxyapatite's effect on the properties of resin-based dental composite

To investigate the reinforcing effect of nanoflower-like hydroxyapatite (NFHA) in resin-based dental composites, we synthesized a novel NFHA using microwave irradiation (MW), hydrothermal treatment (HT), and sonochemical synthesis (SS). Silanized NFHA was then used as the reinforcing filler in dental resin composites. We characterized the structure and morphology of various HA nanostructures using x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, and TEM. The mechanical performance of dental resin composites reinforced with silanized NFHA was measured using a universal testing machine. Spherical HA, synthesized through chemical precipitation (CP), served as the control group. One-way analysis of variance was employed for the statistical analysis of the acquired data. The results demonstrate that the nanoflower morphology significantly was improved mechanical and physical properties. After conducting trials, the NFHA synthesized using MW and HT showed a substantial enhancement in mechanical and physical properties compared to the other structures. Therefore, it can be concluded that NFHA can serve as a novel reinforcing HA filler, providing regenerative properties to resin composites with sufficient mechanical strength.     

Renovation of a Safety-Inspection Methodology for River Bridges

River bridges and related infrastructural elements need to be monitored and inspected periodically for deterioration and loss of function due to aging, adverse hydraulic conditions, and chemical attacks. Necessary protective works and related actions should then be implemented to increase safety. Types of items to be inspected would be categorized as structural, geotechnical, hydraulic, and structural material conditions. Requirements for periodic inspections and the ways of handling these activities were discussed within the framework of the aforementioned aspects. Since each bridge authority has its own inspection grading system according to variations in local conditions and the socioeconomic status of the country, a common core methodology should be implemented such that comparisons with different case studies are meaningful. The aim of this study is the renovation of the current inspection system in Turkey, in order to implement it primarily for saving human life, as well as promoting Turkey’s economy, labor, and manpower. An algorithm, based on evaluating components of the main body, earth-retaining facilities, and serviceability, as well as hydraulic aspects, is proposed. This renovation enables the identification of rank-based prioritization of events. The evaluation and interpretation steps were displayed with the help of a case study.     

Vectorially Imprinted Hybrid Nanofilm for Acetylcholinesterase Recognition

Effective recognition of enzymatically active tetrameric acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is accomplished by a hybrid nanofilm composed of a propidium‐terminated self‐assembled monolayer (Prop‐SAM) which binds AChE via its peripheral anionic site (PAS) and an ultrathin electrosynthesized molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) cover layer of a novel carboxylate‐modified derivative of 3,4‐propylenedioxythiophene. The rebinding of the AChE to the MIP/Prop‐SAM nanofilm covered electrode is detected by measuring in situ the enzymatic activity. The oxidative current of the released thiocholine is dependent on the AChE concentration from ≈0.04 × 10^?6 to 0.4 × 10^?6m . An imprinting factor of 9.9 is obtained for the hybrid MIP, which is among the best values reported for protein imprinting. The dissociation constant characterizing the strength of the MIP‐AChE binding is 4.2 × 10^?7m indicating the dominant role of the PAS‐Prop‐SAM interaction, while the benefit of the MIP nanofilm covering the Prop‐SAM layer is the effective suppression of the cross‐reactivity toward competing proteins as compared with the Prop‐SAM. The threefold selectivity gain provided by i) the “shape‐specific” MIP filter, ii) the propidium‐SAM, iii) signal generation only by the AChE bound to the nanofilm shows promise for assessing AChE activity levels in cerebrospinal fluid.     

Experimenting with software testbeds for evaluating new technologies

The evolution of a new technology depends upon a good theoretical basis for developing the technology, as well as upon its experimental validation. In order to provide for this experimentation, we have investigated the creation of a software testbed and the feasibility of using the same testbed for experimenting with a broad set of technologies. The testbed is a set of programs, data, and supporting documentation that allows researchers to test their new technology on a standard software platform. An important component of this testbed is the Unified Model of Dependability (UMD), which was used to elicit dependability requirements for the testbed software. With a collection of seeded faults and known issues of the target system, we are able to determine if a new technology is adept at uncovering defects or providing other aids proposed by its developers. In this paper, we present the Tactical Separation Assisted Flight Environment (TSAFE) testbed environment for which we modeled and evaluated dependability requirements and defined faults to be seeded for experimentation. We describe two completed experiments that we conducted on the testbed. The first experiment studies a technology that identifies architectural violations and evaluates its ability to detect the violations. The second experiment studies model checking as part of design for verification. We conclude by describing ongoing experimental work studying testing, using the same testbed. Our conclusion is that even though these three experiments are very different in terms of the studied technology, using and re-using the same testbed is beneficial and cost effective.