Can The Neutrophil/Leukocyte Ratio Be Used As An Acute Phase Reactant In Patients Diagnosed With Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis?

Aim:Systemic inflammatory response can be detected using several laboratory methods, such as C-reactive protein (CRP). The purpose of this study was to assess inflammation using widely used and more easily available blood count parameters. The purpose of this study was to show changes in hematological and biochemical laboratory characteristics in recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS), and to assess the practicability of the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) as an acute phase reactant like CRP, in patients diagnosed with RAS.Materials and Methods:265 patients with a clinical diagnosis of RAS at the Namık Kemal University Research and Practice Center Dermatological and Venereal Diseases Clinic in 2010-2015 were included in the study following a retrospective review of the patient files. A control group of 299 healthy individuals was also established. Hemoglobin, leukocyte, neutrophil and lymphocyte values were recorded from the patient files, and the neutrophil/leukocyte ratio (NLR) was calculated.Results:No significant difference was determined in leukocyte, neutrophil, lymphocyte or NLR values between the RAS and control groups (p>0.05), while significant differences were observed in terms of CRP and sedimentation values (p<0.01).Conclusion:NLR cannot be used like CRP as an inflammation marker in RAS patients. New studies investigating biological markers capable of supporting clinical diagnosis and follow-up in these patients are required

Model and Simulation Engines for Distributed Simulation of Discrete Event Systems

The construction of efficient distributed simulation engines for discrete event systems (DES) remains a challenge. The vast majority of simulations that are developed today are based on federation of modular sequential simulations. This paper proposes the steps to fill the gap from specifications based on Petri Nets to an efficient simulation of the net throughout a distributed application devoted to this purpose and exploiting the versatility of cloud infrastructures. The outcomes of the proposed DES distributed simulation are: (1) an adapted execution model of PN that is based in the generation and management of events related to the enabling and occurrence of transitions; (2) simple simulation engines for these adapted PN, each hosting a subset of transitions; (3) an scheme for deployment of a set of connected simulation engines; and (4) a simple mechanism for dynamic load balancing by merging/splitting the subsets of transitions hosted in simulation engines

Development of a peristaltic rotary magnetorheological brake for force-feedback systems

Haptik cihazların kuvvet geri besleme sistemlerinde aktif eyleyicilerin kullanılmasına bağlı olarak kullanıcı güvenliği problemleri açığa çıkmaktadır. Ayrıca aktif eyleyici kullanan sistemlerde empedansa bağlı istenmeyen titreşimlerin önlenmesi için de akıllı çözümlere ihtiyaç duyulmaktadır. Reolojik özellikleri kontrol edilebilen Elektroreolojik (ER) ve Manyetoreolojik (MR) akışkanlar hem titireşimlerin engellenmesinde hem de tepki kuvveti elde edilmesinde kullanılmaktadırlar. Manyetoreolojik Akışkanlar (MRF) viskoziteleri Elektroreolojik Akışkanlara (ERF) göre çok daha kolay kontrol edilebilen akıllı malzemelerdir. Bu nedenden dolayı çeşitli fren, kavrama ve sönümleyicilerde ERF yerine MRF kullanımı tercih edilmektedir. Mevcut MRF cihazlarda akışkan sızması ve yüksek sürtünme torkları gibi sorunlar bulunmaktadır. Öte yandan, bu oldukça ağır cihazlardan elde edilen kuvvetler insanların kullanımı için çok yüksektir. Patentler ve akademik yayınlar incelendiğinde, haptik cihazlar ile kullanılabilecek küçültülmüş bir MRF cihaz konusunda çok az çalışma olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Bu çalışmada haptik cihazlarda kullanılabilecek sağınımlı döner bir MRF sönümleyici geliştirilmiştir. Geliştirilen cihazda bahsedilen sorunların en aza indirilmesi amacı ile peristaltik pompaların çalışma prensibi esas alınmıştır. Peristaltik hareket elde edebilmek ve sızdırmazlığı sağlamak amacı ile elastik malzemeler kullanılarak iki tip MRF haznesi tasarlanmış ve üretilmiştir. Elastik haznelerin üretilebilmesi için hızlı takımlama sürecinden faydalanılmıştır. Hareket halindeki büyük parçalar ataleti arttıracağından, ayrıca geliştirilen ürünün küçültülmüş boyutlarda olması gerekmektedir. Bu amaçla ilk çalışan prototipin ölçüleri kullanılarak en iyileme çalışması yapılmıştır. En iyileme çalışması Parçacık Sürü En İyilemesi (PSO) yöntemi kullanılarak gerçekleştirilmiştir. PSO süreci sonrasında elde edilebilecek en hafif, en az güç tüketen ve en yüksek tepki torkunu veren tasarıma ulaşılmıştır. Hem çalışan prototiplerin hem de PSO ile elde edilen tasarıma ait deneysel sonuçlar ile teorik hesaplamalar kıyaslanmıştır. Ayrıca ısıl analizler gerçekleştirilerek cihazda meydana gelebilecek sıcaklıklar sayısal olarak elde edilmiştir. Geliştirilen tasarım ve cihaz ile kapalı çevrim sıvı taşıması yapan bir sistemdeki MR akışkanının viskozitesi kontrol edilebilmektedir. Böylece, bu cihazı kullanan haptik cihazlar veya sistemler titreşimsiz güç aktarımı yapabilecektir. Ayrıca yarı-aktif eyleyici olarak kullanılabilecek cihaz mevcut olan ayarlanabilir frenlerin yerine de kullanılabilir. Ayarlanabilir fren ve sönümleyicilerin kullanıldıkları diğer uygulamalar arasında koltuk süspansiyonu, egzersiz aleti sönümleyicileri ve bacak protezleri örnek olarak gösterilebilir.User safety problems arise due to the use of active actuators in force feedback systems of haptic devices. In addition, smart solutions are needed to prevent unwanted vibrations due to impedance in systems using active actuators. Electrorheological (ER) and Magnetorheological (MR) fluids, whose rheological properties can be controlled, are used both in the prevention of vibrations and in obtaining response force. Magnetorheological Fluids (MRF) are smart materials whose viscosities can be controlled much more easily than Electrorheological Fluids (ERF). For this reason, it is preferred to use MRF instead of ERF in various brakes, clutches and dampers. Existing MRF devices have problems such as fluid leakage and high friction torques. On the other hand, the forces obtained from these rather heavy devices are too high for people to use. Furthermore, when patents and academic publications are examined, it has been found that there is very little work on a compact MRF device that can be used with haptic devices. In this study, a peristaltic rotary MRF device which can be used in haptic devices was developed. The aim of reducing the difficulties mentioned above in the developed device is based on the working principle of peristaltic pumps. Two types of MRF reservoirs are designed and manufactured using elastic materials with the aim of achieving peristaltic movement and sealing. The rapid assembly process has been utilized to produce elastic bulkheads. As the moving parts increase the inertia, the developed product must also be in reduced dimensions. For this purpose, optimization study was done by using the dimensions of working prototypes. The optimization study was performed using the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) method. The design that achieved the lightest, least power consumption and highest reaction torque reached after the PSO process is completed. The theoretical calculations are compared with the experimental results of both the working prototypes and the design obtained with PSO. In addition, numerical thermal analyzes were carried out to obtain temperatures that can occur in the device. The viscosity of the MR fluid in a closed loop fluidized system can be controlled with the developed design and device. Thus, haptic devices or systems that use this device will be able to perform vibration-free power transmission. The device, which can also be used as a semi-active actuator, can be used in place of the existing adjustable brakes. Other applications for adjustable brakes and dampers include seat suspension, exercise instrument dampers, and leg prostheses

Investigation on the machinability of a dual phase steel in milling and its estimation by artificial neural networks

Bu çalışmada değişik sıcaklıklarda ara-kritik tavlanmış ve su verilmiş düşük alaşımlı çeliğin frezede işlenebilirliği incelenmiştir. Ayrıca elde edilen deneysel sonuçların yapay sinir ağları ile kestirimi yapılmıştır. Ara-kritik bölgede gerçekleştirilen ısıl işlemler sonrasında içyapılar incelenip martensit hacim oranları belirlenmiştir. Ayrıca 737ºC, 754ºC ve 779ºC sıcaklıklarından su verilmiş düşük, orta ve yüksek martensit hacim oranlarına sahip çeliğin mekanik özellikleri tespit edilmiştir. Aynı zamanda değişik martensit hacim oranlarına sahip çeliklere Jominy uca su verme deneyi yapılarak sertleşebilirlikleri tespit edilmiştir. İşlenebilirlik, frezeleme işlemi kullanılarak değişik kesme hızlarında değerlendirilmiştir. Ayrıca bu işlemlerde karşılaştırma yapmak amacıyla kaplamasız ve TiN kaplamalı semente karbür uçlar kullanılmıştır. Martensit hacim oranının ve kesme parametrelerinin takım ucu aşınmasına ve yüzey pürüzlülüğüne etkisi incelenmiştir. Elman’ın yinelenen sinir ağları ile birlikte Levenberg-Marquardt algoritması kullanılmış ve kestirim işleminin başarılı olduğu tespit edilmiştir.In this study, the machinability of a low alloy steel in milling, which was inter-critically annealed and quenched at various temperatures, was examined. In addition, estimation of the experimental results was made with the use of artificial neural networks. The micro structures were observed and the martensite volume fractions were determined after the application of heat treatments which were carried out in the inter-critical region. Also, the mechanical properties of the steel with low, medium and high martensite volume fractions, which were obtained by quenching from 737ºC, 754ºC and 779ºC temperatures, were evaluated. Meantime, hardenability of the steel with various martensite volume fractions was detected by the application of Jominy end quench testing. Machinability was carried out by using the milling process at various cutting speeds. Besides, uncoated and TiN coated cemented carbide inserts used in order to make comparison. The effect of martensite volume fractions and the cutting parameters on tool wear and the surface roughness were determined. Along with the Elman’s recurrent neural networks, Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm was applied and verified to be successful

HLA federasyon mimarileri için metamodelleme.

This study proposes a metamodel, named Federation Architecture Metamodel (FAMM), for describing the architecture of a High Level Architecture (HLA) compliant federation. The metamodel provides a domain specific language and a formal representation for the federation adopting Domain Specific Metamodeling approach to HLA-compliant federations. The metamodel supports the definitions of transformations both as source and as target. Specifically, it supports federate base code generation from a described federate behavior, and it supports transformations from a simulation conceptual model. A salient feature of FAMM is the behavioral description of federates based on live sequence charts (LSCs). It is formulated in metaGME, the meta-metamodel for the Generic Modeling Environment (GME). This thesis discusses specifically the following points: the approach to building the metamodel, metamodel extension from Message Sequence Chart (MSC) to LSC, support for model-based code generation, and action model and domain-specific data model integration. Lastly, this thesis presents, through a series of modeling case studies, the Federation Architecture Modeling Environment (FAME), which is a domain-specific model-building environment provided by GME once FAMM is invoked as the base paradigm.Ph.D. - Doctoral Progra

Scenario Development: A Model-Driven Engineering Perspective

Scenario development starts with capturing scenarios from the users and leads to the design and the development of the simulation environment to execute these scenarios. This paper proposes a scenario development process adopting a Model-Driven Engineering (MDE) perspective. It takes scenario development and the use of scenarios in simulation environment development put forth in IEEE Recommended Practice for Distributed Simulation Engineering and Execution Process (DSEEP) as a starting point. It then constructs a basic vocabulary including the definitions of operational, conceptual, and executable scenarios. Following MDE principles, scenario development is viewed as a series of model transformations. Operational scenarios, mostly defined in a natural language, are first transformed into conceptual scenarios, which conform to a formal metamodel. Then conceptual scenarios can be transformed into executable scenarios specified using a specific scenario definition language. Furthermore, it is also possible to generate the constructs of simulation environment design and development using model transformations. In this regard, a conceptual scenario metamodel is proposed adopting the Base Object Model metamodel as an example. Then this metamodel is used to present the proposed process with a sample operational scenario and conceptual scenario excerpts. Samples are shown how model transformation can be employed for developing a Federation Object Model and an executable scenario file