A robotic software for intelligent applications

This study addresses the development of a novel intelligent robotic software system which can control a low-cost five DOF robotic arm and allows the robot to be able to play Tic-Tac-Toe, a simple board game. The paper first aims to introduce proposed software and then details the application developed, including image processing, and decision making steps. © 2013 ISAROB

Two solar eclipses observations in Turkey

In thispap er, the changesin the ionosphere over Turkey due to two solar eclipses are reported. TEC on the eclipse day (26 April 1976) and the intensity of an HF radio wave during itspropagation over 567 km between Ankara and Elazıˇg on the eclipse day (11 August 1999) exhibited a very marked decrease

Collision sellar lesions: experience with eight cases and review of the literature

The concomitant presence of a pituitary adenoma with a second sellar lesion in patients operated upon for pituitary adenoma is an uncommon entity. Although rare, quite a great variety of lesions have been indentified coexisting with pituitary adenomas. In fact, most combinations have been described before, but an overview with information on the frequency of combined pathologies in a large series has not been published. We present a series of eight collision sellar lesions indentified among 548 transsphenoidally resected pituitary adenomas in two Neurosurgical Departments. The histological studies confirmed a case of sarcoidosis within a non-functioning pituitary adenoma, a case of intrasellar schwannoma coexisting with growth hormone (GH) secreting adenoma, two Rathke’s cleft cysts combined with pituitary adenomas, three gangliocytomas associated with GH-secreting adenomas, and a case of a double pituitary adenoma. The pertinent literature is discussed with emphasis on pathogenetic theories of dual sellar lesions. Although there is no direct evidence to confirm the pathogenetic relationship of collision sellar lesions, the number of cases presented in literature makes the theory of an incidental occurrence rather doubtful. Suggested hypotheses about a common embryonic origin or a potential interaction between pituitary adenomas and the immune system are presented

Determination of phytochemical content by LC-MS/MS, investigation of antioxidant capacity, and enzyme inhibition effects of nettle (Urtica dioica)

OBJECTIVE: Urtica dioica L. Subsp. dioica is an annual or perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the Urticaceae family that has an important place in ethnobotany. This study aimed to investigate the phytochemical content and the inhibition effect on acetylcholinesterase (AChE), which interact with beta-amyloid to promote the deposition of amyloid plaques and paraoxonase (PON1). This plays a role in the regulation of HDL and LDL and an antiatherogenic, and antioxidant capacity of Urtica dioica. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Phytochemical content was determined by the liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), and to assess the enzyme inhibition and antioxidant capacity the spectrophotometer technique was used. The antioxidant capacity of U. dioica extracts (methanol, hexane, and water) was determined by applying 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS•+), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•+), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and cupric ion reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) methods. RESULTS: The methanol extract of the U. dioica exhibited significant inhibition on the AChE (IC50= 0.098 ± 0.011 mg/mL). However, methanol and water extracts of the U. dioica did not exhibit the inhibition effect on PON1. The highest activity for ABTS•+ was in the hexane extract (55.97%), and for DPPH•+ was in the methanol extract (62.42%). Compared to other solvents (hexane and water), the methanol extract of the U. dioica showed the highest activity for FRAP and CUPRAC methods. Results (as absorbance) were 0.302 for CUPRAC and 0.147 for FRAP in the methanol extract of the U. dioica. The acetohydroxamic acid, gallic acid, caffeic acid, ellagic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, and quercetin were qualified and quantified in LC-MS/MS analyses of Urtica dioica extract. CONCLUSIONS: U. dioica, which has antioxidant, anti-atherosclerotic and neuroprotective effects, has a natural medicine potential if compared to synthetic drugs used in Alzheimer’s patients

A rare genetic disorder in the differential diagnosis of the entrapment neuropathies: Hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies

PubMedID: 16601541Hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies (HNPP) is an autosomal-dominant, slowly progressive neuromuscular disorder, which is characterized by recurrent acute peripheral nerve palsies. Electrophysiological studies show decreased motor and sensory conduction velocities in both clinically affected and unaffected nerves. Focal thickening of myelin sheath with sausage-like formation, also called tomacula, is seen in nerve biopsies. In genetic studies, 1.5-Mb deletion on chromosome 17p11.2 is detected in approximately 85% of HNPP cases and point mutations are determined in some cases.We describe a 26-year-old man who had a 6-month history of paresthesia in the little fingers of his hands. He was diagnosed with HNPP by neurologic examination, and electrophysiological and histopathologic studies. Studies in his mother and one brother also showed entrapment neuropathy. However, no deletions or point mutations were determined in this family. Other genetic defects apart from the known ones might be present in this disease. The most frequent entrapment syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome, is also seen in this disease, so physicians dealing with musculoskeletal problems should be alert about this subject. Awareness of HNPP may help avoid unnecessary operative interventions. Copyright © 2006 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins