A CRITICAL REVIEW ON CLASSIFICATION AND TERMINOLOGY OF SCISSOR STRUCTURES

When the existing literature on the research of scissor structures is thoroughly investigated, it is seen that different researchers use different terminologies and classifications especially for the definition of the primary units and the motion type. Some of the studies define the whole geometry based on the geometric properties of the primary scissor units and the unit lines while some other studies define it according to the loops. All these studies use different names for similar elements. This article aims to review the literature on the classification and terminology of scissor structures and represent the state of art on the studies. Tables are represented showing all approaches in the literature. In addition, the article criticizes the missing points of each terminology and definition, and proposes some new terminology. In order to arrive at this aim, different definitions of the primary scissor units and motion types used in key studies in the literature are investigated thoroughly. With several examples, it is demonstrated that naming the scissor units according to the resulting motion type might be misleading and it is better to specify the motion type for the whole structure. A classification for transformation of planar curves is presented

Loop based classification of planar scissor linkages

Scissor linkages have been used for several applications since ancient Greeks and Romans. In addition to simple scissor linkages with straight rods, linkages with angulated elements have been introduced in the last decades. In the related literature, two methods have been used to design scissor linkages, one of which is based on scissor elements, and the other is based on assembling loops. This study presents a systematic classification of scissor linkages as assemblies of rhombus, kite, dart, parallelogram and anti-parallelogram loops using frieze patterns and long-short diagonal connections. After the loops are replicated along a curve as a pattern, the linkages are obtained by selection of proper common link sections for adjacent loops. The resulting linkages are analyzed for their motions and they are classified as realizing scaling deployable, angular deployable or transformable motion. Some of the linkages obtained are novel. Totally 10 scalable deployable, 1 angular deployable and 8 transformable scissor linkages are listed. Designers in architecture and engineering can use this list of linkages as a library of scissor linkage topologies

Dermal Fibroblast Transcriptome Indicates Contribution Of Wnt Signaling Pathways In The Pathogenesis Of Apert Syndrome

Cranial sutures are unossified connective tissue structures between the cranial bones, which allow expansion of these bones during development. Premature ossification of these structures is called craniosynostosis. Apert syndrome is a well-defined genetic syndrome, which is characterized by craniosynostosis and arises as a result of two missense mutations in Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor, type 2 gene (FGFR2). In this study, differentially expressed genes in dermal fibroblasts from individuals with Apert syndrome and controls were investigated to identify important pathways in the pathogenesis of Apert syndrome. For this purpose, primary skin fibroblast cultures obtained from 3 individuals with Apert syndrome and 3 controls without craniosynostosis were compared by transcriptome microarray, GeneChip Human Genome U133 Plus 2.0. As a result, 181 genes were shown to be differentially expressed between experimental groups. Among these, 10 genes, which significantly differ in Apert syndrome fibroblasts compared to controls, were shown to be involved in a common interaction network and have common Gene ontology (GO) biological processes terms. COLI 1A1, COMP, CPXM2, ITGA8, MGF and INC are differentially expressed genes that have GO terms associated with extracellular matrix (ECM) organization, while FRZB, SFRP2 and WNT2 are involved in WNT signaling pathway. Reorganization of ECM and changes in WNT signaling pathway show that Apert syndrome primary fibroblast cultures may have an increased potential for bone differentiation. The results of this study support craniosynostosis in Apert syndrome may be the result of fast and early differentiation of connective tissue along the sutures.Wo

A mutation screen in patients with Kabuki syndrome

Kabuki syndrome (KS) is one of the classical, clinically well-known multiple anomalies/mental retardation syndromes, mainly characterized by a very distinctive facial appearance in combination with additional clinical signs such as developmental delay, short stature, persistent fingerpads, and urogenital tract anomalies. In our study, we sequenced all 54 coding exons of the recently identified MLL2 gene in 34 patients with Kabuki syndrome. We identified 18 distinct mutations in 19 patients, 11 of 12 tested de novo. Mutations were located all over the gene and included three nonsense mutations, two splice-site mutations, six small deletions or insertions, and seven missense mutations. We compared frequencies of clinical symptoms in MLL2 mutation carriers versus non-carriers. MLL2 mutation carriers significantly more often presented with short stature and renal anomalies (p = 0.026 and 0.031, respectively), and in addition, MLL2 carriers obviously showed more frequently a typical facial gestalt (17/19) compared with non-carriers (9/15), although this result was not statistically significant (p = 0.1). Mutation-negative patients were subsequently tested for mutations in ten functional candidate genes (e.g. MLL, ASC2, ASH2L, and WDR5), but no convincing causative mutations could be found. Our results indicate that MLL2 is the major gene for Kabuki syndrome with a wide spectrum of de novo mutations and strongly suggest further genetic heterogeneity

The Turkish experience with therapeutic plasma exchange: A national survey

WOS: 000473249400014PubMed ID: 31036516Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) is used to treat more than 60 diseases worldwide and has drawn growing interest. Little is known about the current situation of TPE activity in Turkey, so we developed a survey to obtain information about this timely topic. We collected data on TPE from 28 apheresis units throughout Turkey. We performed a total of 24,912 TPE procedures with 3203 patients over the past decade. Twenty years ago, the majority of procedures were performed for neurological and hematological disorders, and today, most TPE procedures are done for the same reasons. The only historical change has been an increase in TPE procedures in renal conditions. Currently, renal conditions were more frequently an indication for TPE than rheumatic conditions. Fresh frozen plasma was the most frequently used replacement fluid, followed by 5% albumin, used in 57.9% and 34.6% of procedures, respectively. The most frequently used anticoagulants in TPE were ACD-A and heparin/ACD-A, used with 1671 (52.2%) and 1164 (36.4%) patients, respectively. The frequency of adverse events (AEs) was 12.6%. The most common AEs were hypocalcemia-related symptoms, hypotension, and urticaria. We encountered no severe AEs that led to severe morbidity and mortality. Overall, more than two thirds of the patients showed improvement in the underlying disease. Here, we report on a nationwide survey on TPE activity in Turkey. We conclude that there has been a great increase in apheresis science, and the number of TPE procedures conducted in Turkey has increased steadily over time. Finally, we would like to point out that our past experiences and published international guidelines were the most important tools in gaining expertise regarding TPE