Air pollution is extremely harmful to human health, ecosystems and the climate. In this context, the level of particulate matter at high concentrations is one of the most important factors in ...determining air quality. Numerous studies have been carried out to solve the air quality problem related to PM concentrations. It is important to note that the sources of pollution have a local character for each urban area and depend on many factors such as meteorological, transportation and other air quality criteria. In this study, particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter smaller than 10 μm (PM
10
) is mathematically modeled with MARS and XGBoost algorithms in Iğdır Province of Turkey. For this purpose, in addition to meteorological data such as wind speed, wind direction, relative humidity, temperature, atmospheric pressure, precipitation, evaporation and global solar radiation, air quality criteria such as SO
2
, NO
x
and O
3
were used and modeled with the aforementioned algorithms. As a result, the XGBoost algorithm can be recommended for modeling the atmospheric PM
10
concentration.
X-linked retinoschisis, a disease characterized by splitting of the retina, is caused by mutations in the retinoschisin gene, which encodes a putative secreted cell adhesion protein. Currently, there ...is no effective treatment for retinoschisis, though viral vector-mediated gene replacement therapies offer promise. We used intravitreal delivery of three different AAV vectors to target delivery of the RS1 gene to Müller glia, photoreceptors or multiple cell types throughout the retina. Müller glia radially span the entire retina, are accessible from the vitreous, and remain intact throughout progression of the disease. However, photoreceptors, not glia, normally secrete retinoschisin. We compared the efficacy of rescue mediated by retinoschisin secretion from these specific subtypes of retinal cells in the Rs1h-/- mouse model of retinoschisis. Our results indicate that all three vectors deliver the RS1 gene, and that several cell types can secrete retinoschisin, leading to transport of the protein across the retina. The greatest long-term rescue was observed when photoreceptors produce retinoschisin. Similar rescue was observed with photoreceptor-specific or generalized expression, although photoreceptor secretion may contribute to rescue in the latter case. These results collectively point to the importance of cell targeting and appropriate vector choice in the success of retinal gene therapies.
In this paper, we present a method for numerical computing of some characteristic kinds of non‐null curves lying on a non‐degenerate surface in Minkowski space
. Namely, we obtain the system of the ...first‐order ordinary differential equations that correspond to general helix, relatively normal‐slant helix, and isophote curve and integrate it under chosen initial conditions by applying the ode45 function of MATLAB and Runge‐Kutta method. Depending on the kind of curve, we assume that parametric equation of the surface, an axis vector, value of the real cosine or hyperbolic cosine of the corresponding pseudo angle between axis vector and Darboux frame's vector, normal curvature, and geodesic torsion of the curve are given. Finally, we provide the related examples of numerically computed characteristic curves.
Knowledge of unplanned readmission rates and prognostic factors for readmission among older people after early discharge from emergency departments is sparse. The aims of this study were to examine ...the unplanned readmission rate among older patients after short-term admission, and to examine risk factors for readmission including demographic factors, comorbidity and admission diagnoses.
This cohort study included all medical patients aged ≥65 years acutely admitted to Danish hospitals between 1 January 2013 and 30 June 2014 and surviving a hospital stay of ≤24 h. Data on readmission within 30 days, comorbidity, demographic factors, discharge diagnoses and mortality were obtained from the Danish National Registry of Patients and the Danish Civil Registration System. We examined risk factors for readmission using a multivariable Cox regression to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for readmission.
A total of 93,306 patients with a median age of 75 years were acutely admitted and discharged within 24 h, and 18,958 (20.3%; 95% CI 20.1 - 20.6%) were readmitted with a median time to readmission of 8 days (IQR 3 - 16 days). The majority were readmitted with a new diagnosis. Male sex (aHR 1.15; 1.11 - 1.18) and a Charlson Comorbidity Index ≥3 (aHR 2.28; 2.20 - 2.37) were associated with an increased risk of readmission. Discharge diagnoses associated with increased risk of readmission were heart failure (aHR 1.26; 1.12 - 1.41), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (aHR 1.33; 1.25 - 1.43), dehydration (aHR 1.28; 1.17 - 1.39), constipation (aHR 1.26; 1.14 - 1.39), anemia (aHR 1.45; 1.38 - 1.54), pneumonia (aHR 1.15; 1.06 - 1.25), urinary tract infection (aHR 1.15; 1.07 - 1.24), suspicion of malignancy (aHR 1.51; 1.37 - 1.66), fever (aHR 1.52; 1.33 - 1.73) and abdominal pain (aHR 1.12; 1.05 - 1.19).
One fifth of acutely admitted medical patients aged ≥65 were readmitted within 30 days after early discharge. Male gender, the burden of comorbidity and several primary discharge diagnoses were risk factors for readmission.
CREATING AND USING MASK IMAGES FOR SEGMENTATION IN POINT CLOUD DATA
The international archives of the photogrammetry, remote sensing and spatial information sciences/International archives of the photogrammetry, remote sensing and spatial information sciences,
01/2022
Conference Proceeding
We introduce generalized Darboux frames along a null Cartan curve lying on a timelike surface in Minkowski space
𝔼13 and define null Cartan normal isophotic and normal silhouette curves in terms of ...the vector field that lies in the normal plane of the curve and belongs to its generalized Darboux frame of the first kind. We investigate null Cartan normal isophotic and normal silhouette curves with constant geodesic curvature
kg$$ {k}_g $$ and constant geodesic torsion
τg$$ {\tau}_g $$. We obtain the parameter equations of their axes and prove that such curves are the null Cartan helices or the null Cartan cubics. In particular, we show that null Cartan normal isophotic curves with a non‐zero constant curvatures
kg$$ {k}_g $$ and
τg$$ {\tau}_g $$ have a remarkable property that they are general helices, relatively normal‐slant helices and isophotic curves with respect to the same axis. We prove that null Cartan cubics lying on a timelike surface are normal isophotic curves with a spacelike axis and normal silhouette curves with a lightlike axis. We obtain the relation between Minkowski Pythagorean hodograph cubic curves and null Cartan normal isophotic and normal silhouette curves. Finally, we give numerical examples of null Cartan normal isophotic and normal silhouette curves obtained by integrating the system of two the first order differential equations under the initial conditions.
Friction materials based on several combinations of zinc borate (ZB) and fly ash (FA) were fabricated and characterized for their mechanical and tribological performance. The triboperformance of the ...friction materials was evaluated on a Chase friction testing machine according to the brake lining quality test procedure as per SAE J661. The composites were manufactured based on a nonasbestos organic-based friction material for an automotive brake system and contained typical ingredients for commercial brake friction materials. The composites had a fixed composition of 15 wt% resin, 15 wt% fibers, and 5 wt% friction additives. ZB and FA as fillers were added to the the raw materials mixture at a total fraction of 65 wt%. The results showed that ZB and FA contents have a significant influence on the mechanical and tribological properties of the friction composites. In particular, the composites containing 0-5 wt% ZB and 65-60 wt% FA showed better friction stability and improved fade resistance compared to those containing 10-35 wt% ZB and 55-30 wt% FA, whereas the composite with 5 wt% ZB and 60 wt% FA showed a maximum friction coefficient. On the other hand, the specific wear rate of the composites decreased with increasing ZB and decreasing FA contents. The morphologies of the worn surfaces as well as wear debris were analyzed by means of scanning electron microscopy.
The effects of graphite and hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) as solid lubricants and aluminum oxide (Al
2
O
3
) and boron carbide (B
4
C) as abrasives on brake friction performance were evaluated. ...Friction material samples were produced based on an experimental formulation, and the lubricants and abrasives were added to the raw materials mixture at a total volume fraction of 10.5%. The composites had a fixed composition of 25% resin, 22% fibers, and 42.5% fillers. The friction tests were performed on a Chase friction material testing machine according to the brake lining quality test procedure as per SAE J661. The friction materials containing h-BN-B
4
C and h-BN-Al
2
O
3
showed better friction stability and improved fade resistance compared to those containing graphite-Al
2
O
3
and graphite-B
4
C. The results also indicated that the friction coefficient and specific wear rate of the composites increased with decreasing solid lubricant and increasing abrasive content. The worn surfaces and wear debris of the composites were examined using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) coupled with an energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS). The atomic fraction of Fe on the worn surfaces and wear debris of the composites increased with decreasing solid lubricant and increasing abrasive content.
In the search for small‐molecule aldose reductase (AR) inhibitors, new tetrazole‐hydrazone hybrids (1–15) were designed. An efficient procedure was employed for the synthesis of compounds 1–15. All ...hydrazones were subjected to an in vitro assay to assess their AR inhibitory profiles. Compounds 1–15 caused AR inhibition with Ki values ranging between 0.177 and 6.322 µM and IC50 values ranging between 0.210 and 0.676 µM. 2‐(1‐(4‐Hydroxyphenyl)‐1H‐tetrazol‐5‐yl)thio‐N’‐(4‐fluorobenzylidene)acetohydrazide (4) was the most potent inhibitor of AR in this series. Compound 4 markedly inhibited AR (IC50 = 0.297 µM) in a competitive manner (Ki = 0.177 µM) compared to epalrestat (Ki = 0.857 µM, IC50 = 0.267 µM). Based on the in vitro data obtained by applying the MTT test, compound 4 showed no cytotoxic activity toward normal (NIH/3T3) cells at the tested concentrations, indicating its safety as an AR inhibitor. Compound 4 exhibited proper interactions with crucial amino acid residues within the active site of AR. In silico QikProp data of all hydrazones (1–15) were also determined to assess their pharmacokinetic profiles. Taken together, compound 4 stands out as a promising inhibitor of AR for further in vivo studies.
New tetrazole‐hydrazone hybrids (1–15) were synthesized and subjected to an in vitro assay to assess their aldose reductase (AR) inhibitory profiles. Compound 4 was found to be the most potent inhibitor of AR in this series with an IC50 value of 0.297 µM in a competitive manner (Ki = 0.177 µM). In silico data also supported the in vitro data.
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