Karabük University

Sex estimation plays a critical role in forensic identification, missing person identification, and forensic investigations. This study aimed to evaluate the usability of quantitative metric measurements obtained from computed tomography (CT) images of the atlas (the first cervical vertebra) for sex identification using machine learning algorithms. The study used CT images from 200 individuals (100 males and 100 females). Eighteen metric parameters of the atlas-comprising 16 lengths and 2 angles-were measured. These parameters were analyzed using 13 different machine learning algorithms. Basic statistical methods were used to compare the effect of each metric parameter on sex estimation. The machine learning models predicted sex with an accuracy ranging from 86% to 89%. The highest accuracy (89%) was achieved by the Gaussian Naive Bayes algorithm using only five selected metric parameters. Additionally, 15 out of the 18 measured parameters showed statistically significant differences between sexes. This study demonstrates that sex can be estimated with high accuracy using only quantitative metric measurements data from the atlas vertebra and machine learning algorithms. Notably, this approach may be especially valuable when only the atlas is available, providing essential preliminary data for forensic medical examinations.

This study investigated the effects of rolling temperature and rate on the microstructure, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance of ZM21 magnesium sheets.Microstructural anal. revealed that higher rolling temperatures and rates refined the grain structure, producing a higher d. of finer grains.Wear tests under dry and corrosive conditions showed that wear rates remained generally low, with the highest rates observed in samples rolled at 375 °C (40% reduction, dry) and 325 °C (80% reduction, corrosive).SEM anal. of worn surfaces revealed thin grooves in Zn-rich regions and linear lines in areas with high Zn content.Corrosion tests indicated a 68% increase in corrosion rate after homogenization compared to the as-cast state.However, rolling at 375 °C reduced the corrosion rate by 24% compared to the as-cast state and 26% to the homogenized state.The higher corrosion rates at elevated rolling temperatures and rates are attributed to increased grain boundary area due to grain refinement.In conclusion, the results demonstrate a complex relationship between rolling parameters, microstructure, and the resulting mech. and corrosion properties of the ZM21 magnesium alloy.

This study explored the neuroprotective effects of honokiol against oxidative stress, neuroinflammation and transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-β1) pathways in kainic acid (KA)-induced neurodegeneration in rats. The animals were divided into: control [Honokiol solvent (dimethyl sulphoxide), intraperitoneal for 7 days]; sham [single-dose KA solvent (saline, intracerebroventricular)]; KA (0,5 μg/μl, single-dose, intracerebroventricular); Honokiol [5 mg/kg-intraperitoneal) for 7 days]; and KA+Honokiol [KA single dose and Honokiol (for 7 days)]. Cerebral cortex and hippocampus tissues of the right hemispheres of rat brains were removed and examined biochemically and histopathologically. KA administration caused an increase in malondialdehyde levels and a decrease in reduced glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels. In addition, interleukin-1β levels and TGF-β1 expression were increased. Honokiol treatment decreased malondialdehyde levels, increased SOD and GSH levels, increased interleukin-1β levels and improved TGF-β1 expression in rats. Our data showed Honokiol has a protective potential against kainic acid-induced neurodegeneration by suppressing oxidative stress, inflammation and TGF-β1 expression.