WoS
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Conference Object Article A General Type of Linear Consecutive-K Systems(Springer, 2026) Yi, He; Balakrishnan, Narayanaswamy; Li, XiangIn this paper, some well-known consecutive k-type systems, including linear consecutive-k-out-of-n: F systems and linear l-consecutive-k-out-of-n: F systems without/with overlapping, are generalized by using more general failure patterns. Finite Markov chain imbedding approach (FMCIA) is applied in a new way for evaluating reliabilities of these generalized new systems. Some illustrative examples are provided for demonstrating the theoretical results established here and also for showing the efficiency of the computational process. Finally, some possible applications and generalizations are mentioned.Conference Object Deep Learning for the Detection of Ischemic Stroke within 24 Hours Using Non-Contrast Computed Tomography: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Diagnostic Accuracy(Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2026) Tan, Alp; Basaran, Ekin Bora; Senturk, Ecem; Tinazli, Arda; Kara, Bilge; Dogan, Suheda Kubra; Yangi, KivancArticle On Optimal Allocation of Redundancies in Random Weighted Coherent Systems(Wiley, 2026) Sahoo, Tanmay; Hazra, Nil Kamal; Balakrishnan, NarayanaswamyUnlike the ordinary coherent systems, a random weighted coherent system captures components' disparity. Its performance is measured by some appropriate measure of contributions made by all of its components. In this paper, we consider random weighted coherent systems, defined based on the survival capacity, with three different survival mechanisms, namely, Types-I, II, and III. Then, we study the optimal active redundancy allocation policy as well as the optimal assembly method of random weights in a random weighted coherent system. We provide several numerical examples to illustrate all the results established here.Article Social Determinants of Health and Risk of Lower Extremity Amputation in Patients with Peripheral Artery Disease in Canada: Protocol for a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis(BMJ Publishing Group, 2026) Chowdhury, Abhiroop; Sheikh, Fatima; Azab, Sandi M.; De Souza, Russell J.; Banfield, Laura; Balakrishnan, Narayanaswamy; Anand, Sonia S.Introduction Peripheral artery disease (PAD) affected approximately 800 000 Canadians aged 25 years or older in 2015 and it poses a substantial risk of lower extremity amputation (LEA). While clinical risk factors for amputation are well-established, the impact of social determinants of health (SDoH) on amputation risk remains unclear, particularly in a Canadian context.Objectives This systematic review aims to: (1) synthesise evidence on the associations between multilevel SDoH domains and LEA (both major and/or minor) risk in Canadian PAD patients including intersectional effects of race and ethnicity with another SDoH domain, and (2) evaluate the statistical methodologies used in the researched literature to inform future study design and analysis approaches.Methods and analysis We will systematically search MEDLINE, Embase, EmCare, Global Health, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature and Web of Science for studies examining SDoH and LEA in Canadian patients with PAD (including chronic limb-threatening ischaemia which is a severe form of PAD). Date limits for each database will be from inception through December 2025. SDoH will be categorised using a modified Healthy People 2030 SDoH framework under six domains: economic stability, education, food, neighbourhood and physical environment, healthcare system and community and social context. Two reviewers will independently screen titles, abstracts and full texts, with discrepancies resolved by a third reviewer. Data will be extracted on study characteristics, SDoH measures, outcomes and statistical methods. Risk of bias will be assessed using RoB 2 for randomised trials, ROBINS-I for non-randomised studies of interventions and ROBINS-E for studies investigating exposures. A narrative synthesis, and where data permit, a Bayesian hierarchical meta-analysis using both effect size and contingency table approaches will be conducted. Statistical heterogeneity will be explored through subgroup analyses and meta-regression, examining study design, SDoH measurement approaches and population characteristics.Ethics and dissemination As a systematic review and meta-analysis, ethics approval is not required. For institutional oversight, we provide the contact of Dr Sonia Anand (Associate Vice-President, Global Health, McMaster University; anands@mcmaster.ca). Results will be reported following PRISMA guidelines and disseminated through a peer-reviewed publication.PROSPERO registration number CRD420251115759.Article The Weak Link in the Chain: The (Surprisingly) Loose Ties Between Migrant Women and Women's Organizations in Turkey(Routledge Journals, Taylor & Francis Ltd, 2026) Gencoglu, Funda; Ozgur Keysan, AsumanThis article examines the fragmented solidarities between women's organizations and Syrian migrant women in Turkey, focusing on & Idot;stanbul, Gaziantep, and & Idot;zmir, the cities with the highest concentrations of Syrian migrants. Drawing on semi-structured interviews conducted with representatives from 25 women's organizations, the study investigates why feminist solidarity has remained elusive despite the shared gendered vulnerabilities of migrant women and Turkish women. The findings reveal that women's organizations are divided in their approaches to migrant women due to differing conceptualizations of the state, intersectionality, and traditional gender roles, as well as the cultural and socio-economic heterogeneity of Syrian women. These divisions are further compounded by structural constraints that limit opportunities for engagement and reinforce exclusionary attitudes. By situating these dynamics within the broader context of transnational feminist debates, the article argues that feminist solidarity is not a given but a contested and context-dependent process that requires active efforts to bridge divides. The study contributes to scholarship on migration and feminist solidarity by foregrounding the intersecting dimensions of gender, class, ethnicity, and state-civil society dynamics, emphasizing the need for rights-based, transformative solidarities over charity-based approaches. The article concludes with implications for feminist politics, migration policy, and pathways for future research, offering insights into fostering inclusive solidarities in global migration contexts.Article Regenerating Shopping Mall Interiors through Stakeholder Engagement and Participatory Design(Emerald Group Publishing Ltd, 2026) Kocaili, Ergin Kemal; Ergun Kocaili, BuketPurposeThis paper explores how participatory design approaches contribute to the regeneration of shopping mall interiors, with a specific focus on the design and spatial configuration of public restroom areas - critical, yet often overlooked, components of user experience in commercial environments.Design/methodology/approachAdopting a case study methodology, the research combines user surveys, stakeholder interviews and spatial analysis to investigate the participatory redesign process of restroom facilities in Kentpark Shopping Mall, Ankara. The study uses both qualitative and quantitative tools to evaluate user needs and the resulting spatial changes.FindingsThe findings demonstrate that engaging multiple stakeholders - including users, maintenance staff and management - through participatory methods leads to more inclusive, functional and context-sensitive interior solutions. In particular, data gathered through participatory processes directly informed the redesign of the public restrooms, resulting in significant improvements in layout, accessibility and spatial efficiency.Practical implicationsThe study offers a replicable model for incorporating participatory design into the regeneration of commercial interior spaces. It shows how empirical data collection and stakeholder input can be translated into the actual design of wet spaces, such as public restrooms, enhancing both usability and facility performance in aging shopping malls.Originality/valueThis research contributes to the limited body of literature on participatory design in commercial interiors by foregrounding restrooms as a meaningful site of spatial regeneration. It bridges the fields of interior architecture, spatial design research and facility management.Article Skull Base Surgery in the Pediatric Population-The 2nd International Collaborative Study (1995-2015)(Wiley, 2026) Fliss, Dan M.; Ungar, Omer J.; Levyn, Helena; Valero, Cristina; Adilbay, Dauren; Eagan, Alana; Shah, Jatin P.Background The current study presents the efforts of a global collaborative group to review the management and outcomes of malignant tumors of the skull base in the pediatric population worldwide.Patients and Methods A total of 28 institutions contributed data on 3061 patients. From this, there were 64 pediatric patients (2.1%). Clinical variables, overall and disease-free survival (OS and DFS) outcomes, and multivariable factors associated with outcome were evaluated.Results The male-to-female ratio was 37:27 and the median [IQR] age at diagnosis was 14.0 [9.6-16.0] years. The most common malignancy was sarcoma (57.8%), followed by esthesioneuroblastoma (25.0%) and carcinoma (17.2%). Negative margins were achieved in 53.1% children. Dural invasion was associated with reduced OS and DFS. Adjuvant radiotherapy was associated with improved survival outcomes.Conclusions Open approaches were widely used for pediatric skull base tumor resection in the period between 1995 and 2015 but we saw a rise in the use of endoscopic and combined techniques by the end of the period covered by this study. Our results may represent a transitional era in which alternative endoscopic techniques continue to expand.Article Randomized Controlled Trials in Europe: A Call to Action to Protect National Healthcare Systems from the Upcoming Tsunami of Kidney Failure(Oxford University Press, 2026) Ortiz, Alberto; Arici, Mustafa; Goumenos, Dimitrios S.; Adamczak, Marcin; Eller, Kathrin; Ferreira, Ana Carina; Torra, RoserKidney diseases are among the fastest-growing global health burdens, with chronic kidney disease projected to become the third leading cause of death by 2050. Despite this, therapeutic innovation remains limited: no European Medicines Agency-approved treatment exists for acute kidney injury, and no drugs have demonstrated survival benefits in patients on dialysis. Randomized controlled clinical trials, although pivotal for advancing care, face persistent challenges in nephrology, including patient heterogeneity, multimorbidity, high dropout rates and small populations in rare diseases. In Europe, these intrinsic obstacles are compounded by fragmented implementation of the Clinical Trials Regulation (536/2014), excessive safety reporting demands and lack of nephrology-specific guidance, discouraging academic-led initiatives and limiting pragmatic research. The Coalition for Reducing Bureaucracy in Clinical Trials, a broad alliance of medical societies and patient advocates, has recently published the 'Clinical research in Europe: putting quality and patient safety first' recommendations calling for regulatory harmonization, simplified safety reporting and patient-centred consent. The European Renal Association, a member of the Coalition and contributor to the report, fully supports these recommendations. Implementing such measures is critical to fostering efficient, high-quality nephrology trials in Europe and delivering urgently needed, evidence-based, life-saving and safe therapies for patients with kidney disease.Article Biofuel Production From Model Bio-Oil: Impact of Perovskite-Based Catalysts and Metal Oxide Mixtures on Upgrading and Selectivity(Springer, 2026) Ozcan, Merve Celik; Dogu, Doruk; Oktar, NurayBiofuel production was conducted using model bio-oil to examine the upgrading performance of perovskite-based and metal oxide catalysts. Bare and Ce, Co, Sr, Mo, and tungstophosphoric acid-doped LaFeO3 perovskite-based catalysts were synthesized via sol-gel method. The bio-oil upgrading activity of commercial La2O3, alpha-Fe2O3, and alpha-Fe2O3/La2O3 metal oxide catalysts compared to LaFeO3-based catalyst was also investigated. Catalyst properties were characterized by XRD, TGA/DTG, N-2 adsorption/desorption, SEM-EDX, FTIR, DRIFTS, and Raman techniques. Activity tests were performed at 400 degrees C at under atmospheric pressure. A model bio-oil mixture was formulated with hydroxy propanone/formic acid/furfural (2:4:3 mass ratio), and a dilution ratio of 30:70 (bio-oil mixture/alcohol) was applied. Ethanol and methanol were examined as co-reactants. Ethanol-assisted upgrading resulted in higher deoxygenation efficiency and enhanced iso-paraffin selectivity compared to methanol. Increasing the calcination temperature of LaFeO3 from 700 to 800 degrees C improved crystallinity and raised the overall bio-oil conversion from 69.4 to 83.4%. The bare LaFeO3 catalyst calcined at 800 degrees C exhibited high iso-paraffin selectivity (69.4 vol%) and oil-phase selectivity (80.3%). The superior upgrading performance of LaFeO3 was attributed to its orthorhombic perovskite lattice structure and mild surface acidity, favoring cracking, deoxygenation, and coke suppression. Ce-doped LaFeO3 (x = 0.1) enhanced oxygen mobility and promoted olefin selectivity resulting in the highest overall bio-oil conversion (83.8%). At higher Ce contents (x = 0.2), CeO2 side-phase formation promoted naphthene selectivity. In contrast, Sr-, Co-, and Mo-doped LaFeO3 catalysts showed higher oxygenated content. Compared with alpha-Fe2O3/La2O3 mixed catalyst, which exhibited 16.0 wt% coke formation, LaFeO3 showed low coke deposition (0.24 wt%). Long-term stability testing of LaFeO3 revealed only a very small amount of carbon formation (1.39 wt%) and no catalyst deactivation. Similar product distributions were obtained in both short-term and long-term tests. [GRAPHICS]Article The Paradox of Power in Turkey: Omnipotent Leader, Impotent State(Wiley, 2026) Bektas, Eda; Muhurcuoglu, KorhanThis article examines a central paradox of contemporary authoritarianism: how the concentration of power in the hands of a seemingly omnipotent executive can simultaneously erode bureaucratic capacity and autonomy through subordination, producing an increasingly impotent state. Focussing on Turkey's transition to hyper-presidentialism after the 2018 elections, it argues that excessive centralisation has undermined the institutional competence and discretion required for coordinated and effective policy implementation. The government's response to the 6 February 2023 twin earthquakes provides a tragic and revealing case that affected millions of lives. Despite Recep Tayyip Erdo & gbreve;an's pledges that the presidential system would deliver efficiency and decisiveness, disaster governance was marked by delayed decision making, poor coordination, limited capacity for rapid mobilisation and communication and an emphasis on narrative control over effective execution. Drawing on bureaucratic capacity and autonomy as indicators of governance quality, this article shows how personalist rule hollows out state institutions, exposing its limits in delivering good governance.Article Performance Investigation of ML Algorithms for Potato Blight Classification: The Role of Hyperparameter Tuning(Springer, 2026) Saeed, Sadia; Rehman, Hafiz Zia Ur; Hussain, Muhammad Ureed; Khan, Muhammad Umer; Saeed, Muhammad TallalPotato is the world's fourth most important food crop, consumed by over a billion people. Early and late blight diseases can reduce yields by up to 40%, leading to severe economic and food security challenges. While manual detection methods are prone to error, automated, image-based machine learning (ML) offers a promising alternative, though its performance depends strongly on proper optimization. This study investigates the role of hyperparameter tuning in improving ML algorithms for potato blight classification. We utilized two datasets: the PlantVillage dataset (500 images per class) and a region-specific Potato Leaf Dataset (PLD) from Pakistan (1628 early blight, 1424 late blight, 1020 healthy). All images were resized to 256 & times; 256 pixels and augmented. Features were extracted using the Bag-of-Features (BoF) technique, and four classic ML models-Support Vector Machine (SVM), k-Nearest Neighbors (kNN), Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA), and Random Forest (RF)-were trained. Hyperparameters were optimized via grid search with 5-fold cross-validation. This tuning led to measurable improvements; for instance, SVM accuracy increased from 93.0% to 95.9% on PlantVillage and from 85.0% to 87.0% on PLD. Evaluation using precision, recall, F1-score, and specificity confirmed SVM as the best-performing model. A confusion matrix analysis revealed that most misclassifications occurred between the two blight types due to visual similarity. To translate our findings into practice, we developed a MATLAB Graphical User Interface (GUI) that enables farmers to classify a leaf image in under three seconds and receive precautionary recommendations. This study demonstrates that systematic hyperparameter optimization is crucial for maximizing ML performance and is a key step in building accessible, real-time tools for precision agriculture. Future work will focus on extending the system to mobile and web platforms.Article Real Interest Rate Parity in Latin American Countries: Evidence from New Panel Unit Root Tests(Wiley, 2026) Omay, Tolga; Abioglu, Vasif; Hasanli, MubarizIn this study, we test the empirical validity of the real interest rate parity hypothesis for 15 Latin American countries over the period 2005-2023. To this end, we employ a battery of panel unit root tests to examine stochastic properties of the real interest rate differentials (RIDs) of the countries under consideration. The panel unit root tests that allow for both the cross-sectional dependence and the nonlinearities in the adjustment process do not reject the null of unit root for the most of these countries, suggesting that the real interest rate parity hypothesis does not hold for these countries. On the other hand, the panel unit root test that allows for smooth structural changes produces results consistent with the real interest rate parity hypothesis for 12 out of 15 Latin American countries. These findings imply that various shocks, including political, economic, and financial upheavals, can cause significant structural shifts in the RIDs of Latin American countries.Article Performance Assessment of a Solar-Geothermal Based Organic Rankine Cycle System Producing Green Hydrogen(Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd, 2026) Atak, Yagmur NalbantThis study presents a comprehensive thermodynamic (energy and exergy) analysis of a solar-geothermal-based Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) system integrated with a proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzer for green hydrogen production. The system simultaneously harnesses the continuous heat of a geothermal source and the intermittent solar thermal input to ensure stable hydrogen generation. The effects of key operating parameters (solar radiation intensity, production well temperature, inlet temperature of the PTSC fluid, and ORC and PTSC working fluid types were investigated. The results reveal that higher solar radiation intensities significantly enhance both power generation and hydrogen yield, increasing the hydrogen production rate from 22.9 to 24.3 kg/h and the net electrical output from 4.17 to 4.41 MW. Similarly, increasing the geothermal well temperature from 400 K to 600 K significantly enhances hydrogen production, rising from 15.9 to 45.5 kg/h, and increases the net power output by approximately 185 %. However, the exergy efficiency decreases slightly from 0.26 to 0.17 due to increased irreversibilities at higher temperatures. The optimal working pair was determined to be R134a for the ORC and Therminol VP1 for the PTSC, achieving an electrical efficiency of 9.27 %, exergy efficiency of 25.13 %, and hydrogen production rate of 29.02 kg/h. In addition, the exergy analysis showed that the PTSC (similar to 35 %) and condenser (similar to 24.6 %) are the dominant sources of irreversibility. Finally, the Taguchi optimization identified the optimal configuration (Gb = 3.50 x 10(-4) MW/m(2), T-a = 500 K, T-11 = 600 K, and ORC fluid = R134a) yielding the highest overall efficiency and robust performance under variable operating conditions.Article Evaluation of Central Auditory Processing in Children with Developmental Dyslexia(Elsevier Ireland Ltd, 2026) Begen, Senanur Kahraman; Ciyiltepe, Muge Muzeyyen; Arslan, BerkayObjective: Developmental dyslexia is a neurodevelopmental disorder primarily characterized by phonological and reading difficulties. This study aimed to investigate temporal auditory processing and dichotic listening performance in children with developmental dyslexia and to explore their potential contribution to reading-related difficulties. Methods: Sixty children aged 8-13 years participated in the study, including 30 children diagnosed with developmental dyslexia and 30 age-matched typically developing peers. Central auditory processing was assessed using the Staggered Spondaic Word (SSW) test for dichotic listening and the Frequency Pattern Test (FPT), Duration Pattern Test (DPT), and Random Gap Detection Test (RGDT) for temporal auditory processing. Results: Children with developmental dyslexia demonstrated significantly poorer performance than controls across all temporal and dichotic auditory processing measures (p < 0.05). In the SSW test, the greatest performance difference was observed in the left competing condition. Temporal processing deficits were evident in frequency discrimination, duration pattern recognition, and gap detection tasks. Conclusion: Children with developmental dyslexia exhibit weaknesses in temporal and dichotic auditory processing tasks. Given the linguistic demands inherent in some dichotic measures, these findings likely reflect an interaction between auditory and language-related processing rather than isolated auditory pathway dysfunction. Incorporating central auditory processing assessment into multidisciplinary dyslexia evaluations may contribute to more targeted diagnostic and intervention approaches.Article Investigation of Toxoplasma Gondii and Human Papillomavirus in Paraffin-Embedded Spontaneous Abortus Materials(Oxford Univ Press inc, 2026) Usluca, Selma; Bakir, Ayfer; Kurkcu, Muhammed Furkan; Caglar, Melike; Duran, Firdevs SahinObjective Toxoplasma gondii and human papillomavirus (HPV) can cause spontaneous abortus. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of these pathogens in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded placenta samples from women diagnosed with spontaneous abortus.Methods A total of 288 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded placenta tissue blocks stored in the archives of Etlik City Hospital Pathology Laboratory were included in the study between October 1, 2022, and June 23, 2023. The presence of T gondii and HPV in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded placenta samples was investigated using real-time polymerase chain reaction.Results The T gondii DNA was not detected in the samples. However, anti-T gondii IgG antibody was positive in 10.4% (11/106) of the patients. Human papillomavirus DNA was positive in 5.4% of the samples, with HPV 18 and HPV 31/58/66 being the most frequently detected HPV types.Conclusions Our study revealed that HPV could infect the placenta by detecting high-risk HPV in placental samples. However, no relationship was found between HPV positivity and previous stillbirth or spontaneous abortus. Prospective studies with larger populations are needed to further understand the role of these factors in the cause of spontaneous abortus.Article The Purpose and Legal Nature of the Condition of `Prohibition of Use` in Mesne Profit Claims Between Joint Owners(Istanbul Univ, Fac Law, 2025) Goka, Ekin KorkmazThe Court of Cassation, through its established case law, has delineated the condition of "prohibition of use" ("in tifadan men") in instances where other joint owners initiate a claim for mesne profits ("ecrimisil") against a joint owner who is in actual use of property subject to joint ownership. Nevertheless, the definition and legal function of this condition remain ambiguous, both in doctrine and in practice. Some scholars perceive it as an unjustified limitation on property rights and criticize the case law. However, the study reveals that the condition required by the Court of Cassation is a legal construct inherently rooted in the structural logic of joint ownership particularly the scope of use and utilization rights. This is because, in order for one joint owner to file a claim for compensation against another, it is first necessary to determine the limits of the latter's right of use and whether these limits have been exceeded. In this context, the term "prohibition of use" functions as a practical criterion for determining whether the actual use of the property by a joint owner is justified. In this study, the condition of "prohibition of use" is first defined in light of the decisions ofthe Court of Cassation; then, the purpose of this condition is revealed within the framework ofthe 'use' and "utilization" rights of the co owners in jointly owned properties. Subsequently, the cases recognized as exceptions bythe Court ofCassation are evaluated in line with the purpose ofthe condition, and finally, the legal nature of "prohibition of use" is determined.Article Univariate Deep Learning Models for Short-Term Electricity Load Forecasting from Renewables(Ankara Univ, Fac Sci, 2025) Kabran, Fatma Basoglu; Unlu, Kamil DemirberkRenewable energy offers a cost-effective, carbon-free solution for energy needs, while protecting the environment. Accurate forecasting of electricity generation from renewable sources is crucial for the efficiency of modern power grids. This study employs a univariate deep learning approach to predict daily renewable energy generation, evaluating Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs) and Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) as candidate models. Five performance metrics-mean absolute error, root mean squared error, mean absolute percentage error, mean absolute scaled error and the coefficient of determination-are employed to assess the forecasting power of the algorithms. The empirical results show that CNN outperforms other models, achieving an R2 of almost 94%. This research shows that the univariate model based on historical data of electricity load generated from renewables can accurately predict day-ahead electricity load, even without meteorological data.Conference Object A New Biomarker to Predict Prognosis and Mortality in Severe Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): Red Cell Index(European Respiratory Society Journals Ltd, 2025) Celik, Hande; Babaoglu, Elif; Koksal, Deniz; Dag, Osman; Sarinc, SevincArticle The SND@LHC Neutron Shielding(IOP Publishing Ltd, 2025) Zamora-Saa, J. A.; Abbaneo, D.; Ahmad, S.; Albanese, R.; Alexandrov, A.; Alicante, F.; Zaffaroni, E.This paper presents the design, construction, and simulation-based validation of the ColdBox, a combined neutron shielding and insulating enclosure for the Scattering and Neutrino Detector at the LHC (SND@LHC). The emulsion films in the detector's target region require protection from the intense neutron radiation background and a stable environment of 15 +/- 1 degrees C and 50-55% relative humidity for long-term stability. The ColdBox meets these requirements through a dual-layer structure: an external 5 cm plexiglass wall to moderate fast neutrons, and an internal 4 cm layer of borated polyethylene (with 35% boron content) to capture thermal neutrons. The mechanical design, based on a robust aluminum frame, accommodates the constraints of the TI18 tunnel. FLUKA simulations were used to optimize the shielding configuration, showing a significant reduction in the neutron flux, with a simulated ratio of shielded to unshielded thermal neutron fluence of 2.3 x 10(-3). This result is consistent with initial measurements from BatMon detectors. The design also provides a sealed volume for a cooling system to maintain the required temperature and humidity, ensuring the necessary conditions for the emulsion films' integrity.

