A neural network based intelligent predictive sensor for cloudiness, solar radiation and air temperature

Accurate measurements of global solar radiation and atmospheric temperature, as well as the availability of the predictions of their evolution over time, are important for different areas of applications, such as agriculture, renewable energy and energy management, or thermal comfort in buildings. For this reason, an intelligent, light-weight and portable sensor was developed, using artificial neural network models as the time-series predictor mechanisms. These have been identified with the aid of a procedure based on the multi-objective genetic algorithm. As cloudiness is the most significant factor affecting the solar radiation reaching a particular location on the Earth surface, it has great impact on the performance of predictive solar radiation models for that location. This work also represents one step towards the improvement of such models by using ground-to-sky hemispherical colour digital images as a means to estimate cloudiness by the fraction of visible sky corresponding to clouds and to clear sky. The implementation of predictive models in the prototype has been validated and the system is able to function reliably, providing measurements and four-hour forecasts of cloudiness, solar radiation and air temperature

Oropharyngeal swallowing functions are impaired in patients with naive-achalasia

WOS: 000509142500007PubMed: 31980888Background It is generally accepted that achalasia is limited to the pathology of the esophageal body and lower esophageal sphincter. However, patients with achalasia still have symptoms such as aspiration and weight loss after even a succesfull treatment, suggesting that additional oropharyngeal pathologies may be frequent in patients with achalasia. Objective the aim of the study was to assess the oropharyngeal/hypopharyngeal swallowing functions of patients with naive-achalasia. Methods We evaluated the oropharyngeal functions with fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) and high-resolution manometry (HRM) in 36 patients with naive-achalasia(mean age 47.8 +/- 14.7; 20F, 20M) diagnosed with and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, HRM, radiology compared the results with 40 healthy volunteers (mean age 48.25 +/- 12.37; 23F, 17M) as controls. the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI) were used for psychological analysis and to assess quality of life. Results Mean integrated relaxation pressure (IRP) values were significantly higher (12.7 +/- 10.9) for all patients compared to controls (0 +/- 4.40). in the presence of pharyngeal residue IRP was 18.6 +/- 11.8 mmHg compare to patients without pharyngeal residue which was 7.2 +/- 6.4 mmHg (p < 0.05). Resting pressures were 105.7 +/- 60.4 mmHg in study group vs 116 +/- 55.1 mmHg in the control group (NS). in the study group we determined that residues of semisolid and liquid food were significantly higher in the vallecula, retrocricoid region, pharyngeal wall, and piriform sinuses with FEES. the average MDADI score was 58.1 +/- 19.8 and 87.6 +/- 10.7 in the study and control groups, respectively (p < 0.05). Depression may be significantly higher in achalasia patients based on the BDI. Conclusion Relaxation of the upper esophageal sphincter is insufficient especially in patient with residue. This finding is supported by the presence of residue during FEES evaluation. in the assessment of patients with achalasia, in the presence of residue symptoms,oropharyngeal phases of swallowing should be examined with FEES. Furthermore, the effect of exercises to improve the pathological findings should be evaluated

PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and autophagy regulator genes in paranasal squamous cell carcinoma metastasis

Avci, Cigir Biray/0000-0001-8251-4520WOS: 000528158000002PubMed: 32319010Although there are many studies on the role of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and autophagy genes in the mechanism of head and neck cancer formation and prognostic significance, there is no study investigating the role of the genes in paranasal sinus carcinomas. the aim of the study was to assess the role of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and autophagy related gene expression changes in squamous cell carcinoma of paranasal sinuses with and without neck metastasis. Eight paranasal squamous cell carcinoma patients (five without and three with neck metastasis) were included. Tissues were obtained during the surgery. Total RNA was isolated from the tissues and cDNA synthesis was performed. Expression levels of the genes were determined using qRT-PCR method. the results were evaluated using the 2(- increment increment Ct) method, and fold changes of the gene expression levels in primary tumor and neck metastasis tissues were calculated according to the normal tissue. Expression levels of both PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and positive regulators of autophagy were significantly increased in metastasis-related two groups, especially in neck metastasis tissues. the increase in PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and autophagy related gene expression levels may support the metastatic character in paranasal squamous cell carcinomas. This is the first study to assess autophagy related genes in paranasal sinus cancer at transcriptome-level. Support of the transcriptome-level findings by the further protein analyses will contribute to the illumination of the rare paranasal sinus cancer molecular biology

Malignant Otitis Externa: A Retrospective Analysis and Treatment Outcomes

WOS: 000443089700010PubMed ID: 30197809Objective: The purpose of this study was to analyze previous treatments and outcomes in patients with malignant otitis externa (MOE) retrospectively. The efficacy of medical and surgical treatments was also evaluated. Methods: This study included 25 patients diagnosed with MOE and treated at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Ege University School of Medicine between 2006 and 2017. The duration of hospitalization, Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels of the patients, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), source of the infection, complications, and previous medical and surgical treatments were also retrospectively assessed. Results: The mean age of the patients (7 females and 18 males) was 69.68 +/- 11.29 years. The mean length of hospital stay in patients with HbA1c levels 6 was 26.86 and 33.39 days, respectively. The mean hospitalization time was significantly longer in patients with HbA1c levels >6 (p65 years) had a significantly longer hospital stay in our study (p<0.05). ESR was found to be 52.76 +/- 32.49 (9-108) mm/h at the first examination and 14.92 +/- 1.22 (4-32) mm/h at the time of discharge. Conclusion: MOE is an aggressive disease that requires conservative management, and ESR proved to be a good indicator of treatment response. Long-term antibiotherapy are recommended for treatment