HEX Programs with Action Atoms

HEX programs were originally introduced as a general framework for extending declarative logic programming, under the stable model semantics, with the possibility of bidirectionally accessing external sources of knowledge and/or computation. The original framework, however, does not deal satisfactorily with stateful external environments: the possibility of predictably influencing external environments has thus not yet been considered explicitly. This paper lifts HEX programs to ACTHEX programs: ACTHEX programs introduce the notion of action atoms, which are associated to corresponding functions capable of actually changing the state of external environments. The execution of specific sequences of action atoms can be declaratively programmed. Furthermore, ACTHEX programs allow for selecting preferred actions, building on weights and corresponding cost functions. We introduce syntax and semantics of acthex programs; ACTHEX programs can successfully be exploited as a general purpose language for the declarative implementation of executable specifications, which we illustrate by encodings of knowledge bases updates, action languages, and an agent programming language. A system capable of executing ACTHEX programs has been implemented and is publicly available

On the use of associative memory in Hopfield networks designed to solve propositional satisfiability problems

Hopfield networks are an attractive choice for solving many types of computational problems because they provide a biologically plausible mechanism. The Self-Optimization (SO) model adds to the Hopfield network by using a biologically founded Hebbian learning rule, in combination with repeated network resets to arbitrary initial states, for optimizing its own behavior towards some desirable goal state encoded in the network. In order to better understand that process, we demonstrate first that the SO model can solve concrete combinatorial problems in SAT form, using two examples of the Liars problem and the map coloring problem. In addition, we show how under some conditions critical information might get lost forever with the learned network producing seemingly optimal solutions that are in fact inappropriate for the problem it was tasked to solve. What appears to be an undesirable side-effect of the SO model, can provide insight into its process for solving intractable problems.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figure

Resistance Rates of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Complex Isolates Obtained From Clinical Samples to Major Antituberculous Drugs: a Study in Edirne, Turkey

DergiPark: 439208tmsjAims: The aim of this study is to reveal the rates of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex resistance to major antituberculous drugs (streptomycin, isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol) by the evaluation of the specimens that are sent to Trakya University Hospital Microbiology Laboratory. Methods:In this study, laboratory data of the cases that were pre-diagnosed with tuberculosis between 11/02/2016 and 31/12/2017 were scanned retrospectively. To compare the annual data descriptive statistics as arithmetic mean, numbers and percentages were used. Results: Out of 4752 samples, 133 (2.79%) were culture positive. 120 isolates were identified as Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, while other 13 were defined as Mycobacterium other than tuberculosis. Antimycobacterial susceptibility tests showed that 9 (7.5%) isolates were resistant to streptomycin, 10 (8.33%) isolates to isoniazid, 4 (3.33%) isolates to rifampicin, 4 (3.33) isolates to ethambutol. 5 (4.16%) isolates were multidrug resistant. Conclusion: Antituberculous drug resistance is still a threat for an effective treatment of tuberculosis and streptomycin resistance has increased. However, it is also pointed out that presence of Mycobacterium other than tuberculosis in isolates has increase

Follow-up results of laser saphenous ablation

Objectives: This retrospective study aimed to evaluatethe efficacy and durability of endovenous laser ablationwith 940 nanometer wavelength with at least one-yearfollow-up.Materials and methods: Between December 2009 andFebruary 2012, a total of 68 incompetent great saphenousveins and 4 small saphenous veins were treated byendovenous laser ablation, using 940 nanometer wavelengths.Patients underwent standard clinical and duplexfollow-up examinations with a mean of 18 months (range12 to 26 months) after endovenous laser ablation. Patientsatisfaction regarding the procedure was assessed withthe use of a visual analog scale (range 1 to 100).Results: Post-procedural duplex scans showed total occlusionof the treated great saphenous veins in 56 patients(97%) and sub-total occlusion in 2 (3%) patients.For small saphenous veins, post-procedural duplex scansshowed total occlusion in 4 (100%) patients.The average pre-procedure modified clinical picture, etiology,anatomic distribution and pathophysiology clinicalscore improved significantly after 12 months. Complicationsfrom our series included swelling and induration in3 patients (5%), skin pigmentation in 3 patients (5%). Patientsatisfaction with the surgical outcome was 83.2 %(±11.8, n=58).Conclusions: Our results seem to be satisfying, and thisstudy has reaffirmed the effectiveness and durability ofendovenous laser ablation with 940 wavelengths in thetreatment of great saphenous vein insufficiency.Key words: Duplex ultrasound, endovenous technique,saphenous vein, venous insufficiency

Influence of hot air drying on phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity of blueberry (<i>Vaccinium myrtillus</i>) fruit and leaf

The present study was undertaken to assess the effects of hot air drying on phenolic compositions, total phenolic (TP) content, total anthocyanin (TA) content, as well as antioxidant capacities of methanol extracts from blueberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) fruit and leaf introduced in Kapıdağ region of Turkey climate conditions. A total of twenty-two phenolic standards were screened by HPLC, total phenols were measured by spectrophotometric methods, antioxidant capacity was determined using DPPH, CUPRAC, ABTS, and FRAP assays in the blueberry fruit and leaf extracts. Analysis by HPLC revealed that fruit extracts have different phenolic profiles due to drying process and contain syringic acid, myricetin, naringin, (-)-epicatechin, and malvidine-3-O-glucoside chloride as the main compounds. Leaf extracts had higher resveratrol concentrations than fruit extracts. The TP and TA contents gradually increased when the blueberry fruits were dried under hot air condition. The fresh and dried blueberry fruit and leaf extracts showed similar antioxidant capacity values. Significant relationships between antioxidant capacity and TP were found.

Evaluation of bone marrow functions and new inflammatory markers in patients with immunocompetent herpes zoster

Background and Design: Herpes zoster (HZ) is a viral infection characterized by dermatomal vesicles caused by the reactivation of the latent varicella-zoster virus (VZV). There are conflicting reports regarding the effects of VZV on bone marrow functions. In this study, we aimed to evaluate bone marrow function and systemic inflammation in immunocompetent HZ patients. Materials and Methods: This study included patients aged &#8805;18 yr diagnosed with HZ and admitted to a dermatology outpatient clinic between June 2011 and June 2021. Hematological parameters in routine hemogram tests of patients with HZ and new inflammatory markers, such as neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), systemic immune inflammation index, and platelet-neutrophil ratio (PNR), were determined and compared with healthy control groups. Results: Thrombocytopenia was observed in 6.1% and lymphopenia in 8% of 461 HZ patients. The mean leukocyte (white blood cell), lymphocyte, neutrophil, eosinophil, and platelet (PLT) counts in HZ patients were statistically significantly lower than in the control group (p&lt;0.05). NLR and PLR values were statistically significantly higher in HZ patients than in the control group (p&lt;0.05). PLT, eosinophil count, and PNR values were statistically lower in HZ patients aged &#8805;65 yr than in patients aged &lt;65 yr, whereas mean platelet volume and NLR values were higher (p&lt;0.05). Conclusion: Thrombocytopenia and lymphopenia may occur in immunocompetent HZ patients. NLR and PLR values increase in HZ patients. The increase in inflammatory markers and decrease in platelet count are more evident in HZ patients aged &#8805;65 yr

Gebelikte Tütün Dumanı Maruziyetinin Anne Sıçan Akciğer Dokusunda Meydana Getirdiği Değişiklikler Üzerine Alfa Lipoik Asitin Etkilerinin İncelenmesi

Amaç: Çalışmamızda gebelikte tütün dumanına maruz kalan anne sıçanların akciğer dokusunda meydana gelen değişiklikler üzerine alfa lipoik asitin etkilerinin deneysel sıçan modeli üzerinde araştırılması amaçlandı. Yöntemler: Çalışmada 28 adet dişi Sprague-Dawley cinsi sıçanlar kullanıldı. Gebe sıçanlar; Kontrol grubu, Tütün dumanı (TD) grubu, Tütün dumanı + Alfa lipoik asit (TD+ALA) grubu ve Alfa lipoik asit (ALA) grubu olmak üzere rastgele dört eşit gruba ayrıldı. TD ve TD+ALA grubundaki sıçanlar çiftleşmeden önce sekiz hafta ve gebelik süresince günde iki saat tütün dumanına maruz bırakıldı. TD+ALA ve ALA grubundaki sıçanlara ise çiftleşmeden önce sekiz hafta ve gebelik süresince gün aşırı oral gavaj yolu ile 20 mg/kg dozunda alfa lipoik asit verildi. Deneyin sonunda sıçanlar dekapite edilerek akciğer dokuları çıkarıldı ve histolojik, biyokimyasal ve immünohistokimyasal metotlar uygulandı. Bulgular: TD grubuna ait akciğer kesitlerinde inflamatuar hücre artışı, konjesyon, ödem, hemoraji gibi histopatolojik bulgular gözlendi. ALA uygulamasıyla bu histopatalojik bulgularda istatistiksel olarak anlamlı oranda düzelmeler izlendi. TD grubunda VEGF immünreaktivitesinin kontrol grubuna göre anlamlı artış gösterdiği, TD+ALA grubunda ise TD grubuna göre VEGF immünreaktivitesinin anlamlı derecede azaldığı belirlendi. TD grubunda MDA değerlerinin kontrole göre anlamlı derecede arttığı, TD+ALA grubunda ise TD grubuna göre anlamlı derecede azaldığı gözlendi. Sonuç: Tütün dumanının gebe sıçan akciğerinde yol açtığı oksidatif hasarın, alfa lipoik asit tedavisinin antioksidan etkileri ile kısmen engellendiği belirlendi

Why do some patients with stage 1A and 1B endometrial endometrioid carcinoma experience recurrence? A retrospective study in search of prognostic factors

Objectives: Endometrial endometrioid carcinoma (EEC) is the most encountered subtype of endometrial cancer (EC). Our study aimed to investigate the factors affecting recurrence in patients with stage 1A and 1B EEC. Material and methods: Our study included 284 patients diagnosed with the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage 1A/1B EEC in our center from 2010 to 2018. The clinicopathological characteristics of the patients were obtained retrospectively from their electronic files. Results: The median age of the patients was 60 years (range 31–89). The median follow-up time of the patients was 63.6 months (range 3.3–185.6). Twenty-two (7.74%) patients relapsed during follow-up. Among the relapsed patients, 59.1% were at stage 1A ECC, and 40.9% were at stage 1B. In our study, the one-, three-, and five-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates were 98.9%, 95.4%, and 92.9%, respectively. In the multivariate analysis, grade and tumor size were found to be independent parameters of RFS in all stage 1 EEC patients. Furthermore, the Ki-67 index was found to affect RFS in stage 1A EEC patients, and tumor grade affected RFS in stage 1B EEC patients. In the time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the statistically significant cut-off values were determined for tumor size and Ki-67 index in stage 1 EEC patients. Conclusions: Stage 1-EEC patients in the higher risk group in terms of tumor size, Ki-67, and grade should be closely monitored for recurrence. Defining the prognostic factors for recurrence in stage 1 EEC patients may lead to changes in follow-up algorithms