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Many studies are still ongoing on the possible effects of the Covid-19 Pandemic process on educational environments. With the decision to switch to distance education during the pandemic process, an important opportunity has emerged for rapid digital transformation in higher education. In this process, the relationships between the digital literacy levels of university students, their views on distance education and their pre-university school memories are curious. Therefore, the main purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between education faculty students' digital literacy levels and their views on distance education and their pre-university school memories. The research was carried out in the faculty of education at a state university in the 2020-21 academic year. The sample group consists of n = 234 (89 males; 145 females, mean age 21.7) pre-service teachers. Research data were collected online via Classroom. During the data collection process, one personal information form and three scale forms were used together. The return rate of the data collection tool is ~ 51%. Descriptive and relational analysis were used to analyze the collected data (p

BACKGROUND This study aimed to investigate the effect of intravenous tranexamic acid (TXA) on blood loss and transfusion rates in children who underwent resection and endoprosthetic reconstruction of distal femoral osteosarcomas. METHODS The medical records of 56 patients who underwent resection and endoprosthetic reconstruction for distal femoral osteosarcomas between 2017 and 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into 2 groups: group 1 consisted of 25 patients (11 male and 14 female, mean age 15.2±3 y) who received preoperative 15 mg/kg intravenous TXA, and group 2 consisted of 31 control patients (18 male and 13 female, mean age 14.3±2.6 y) who did not receive TXA. The groups were compared based on their total blood loss, intraoperative blood loss, hidden blood loss, postoperative drain output, transfusion requirements, preoperative and postoperative hemoglobin (Hb) and hematocrit (Htc) difference, length of hospital stays, operative time, and complications. RESULTS The mean total blood loss was lower in intravenous TXA group (1247.5±300.9 mL) when compared with control group (1715.7±857.0 mL) (P=0.018). The mean intraoperative blood loss in intravenous TXA group (386±109 mL) was lower than that in control group (977.4±610.7 mL) (P

WOS: 000463369400003 PubMed ID: 30945643 Background/Aims: SIRT1 gene overexpression is reportedly associated with cancer development, via the triggering of DNA repair impairment, and cell proliferation. The study aimed to investigate SIRT1 expression in patients with gastric cancer and its correlations with the clinical and pathological characteristics of the disease. Materials and Methods: All patients (64 patients) who underwent gastric biopsy and were diagnosed with gastric adenocarcinoma and signet ring cell carcinoma between January 2011 and December 2013 were enrolled in the study, and patients with benign gastric biopsy were enrolled in the control group (34 patients). The previously prepared gastric tissues were collected from the pathology department, and SIRT1 gene expressions were evaluated in the gastric tissues of all study patients. Patients were subclassified according to their demographic, clinical, and pathologic features, and the patient and control groups were compared. Results: Sixty-four patients were included in the study (25 females and 39 males). The mean age of the patients was 66 +/- 1 (range: 3388) years. The SIRT1 gene 2' Average delta cycle threshold (CT) value was 0.102 in the control group, whereas it was 0.292 in the patients with gastric cancer (relative risk: 2.86; p=0.014). The SIRT1 gene was upregulated in all tumor stage subgroups except stage I, female patients, young patients (

Direct oral anticoagulants have become more popular in recent years and have largely replaced vitamin K antagonists in the treatment of certain conditions, such as stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation and venous thromboembolism. Rivaroxaban is one of the direct oral anticoagulants that inhibit factor Xa and a rare cause of peritoneal haemorrhage which is uncommon and life-threatening complication. In this report, we present a 29-year-old female patient using rivaroxaban due to deep vein thrombosis after pregnancy and developing intraperitoneal hemorrhage around terminal ileum and cecum clinically mimicking acute appendicitis.

Gastric cancer comprises 10% of all cancers in the world and is rarely seen before the age of 30. Different genetic interactions or molecular changes like e-cadherin, P16, APC, c-erb B2, c-met, ras, or c-myc have been described in the pathogenesis of the disease. MiRNAs play critical roles in various biological processes such as cell proliferation, cell differentiation, apoptosis, repairing of DNA damage, angiogenesis, stress response, and stem cell division. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between miRNA gene expressions and gastric cancer. Method: Sixty-four patients with gastric cancer diagnosed consecutively in our pathology laboratory and 30 consecutive participants with normal gastric tissue, as a control group, were included in our study between 2011 and 2013. Total miRNAs were obtained by using genomic miRNA extraction kit (QIAGEN Sample & Assay Technologies, Hilden, Germany) after the samples had been deparaffinized. MiR-21, 107, 141, 150, 192, 202, 218, 331 gene expressions were evaluated by using real time-PCR (RT-PCR) from the whole miRNA. Results: MiR-331 was downregulated in the stage 2 patients and the rest of the miRNAs were significantly upregulated (p < 0.001). All miRNAs were significantly upregulated in the stage 3a patients (p < 0.001). In the antrum localized tumors, miR-107, -150, -202, -218, and -331 were significantly upregulated, whereas miR-21, -192 were statistically downregulated (p < 0.05). In the cardia localized tumors, miR-21 (p > 0.05) was downregulated and miR-107, -150, -202, -218, and -331 were upregulated (p < 0.05) Different gene expressions of miRNAs according to the different localizations of gastric cancer and different stages suggest that it can be tumor marker to predict the stage and localization of gastric cancer. [Med-Science 2019; 8(1.000): 255-9]

The application of high-stakes tests to choose students for higher education in Turkey has been considered as a reliable and effective way of assessment for so long. However, the application of a multiple-choice test in testing various skills could bring a number of side-effects with itself. This study aimed to investigate the backwash effect of the university exam on university students’ attitudes. To be able to collect data from participants, it was first aimed to develop an attitude scale to examine the washback effect of Higher Education Exam (YGS). Considering the views of 5 academicians from educational sciences, ELT and testing disciplines, a preliminary version of the washback scale was developed. Next, the new scale was piloted in order to do its exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Third, the scale’s internal reliability was measured and the scale which had 3 factors and 13 items was proven to be a valid and reliable tool to collect data including university students’ views towards the washback effect of the university exam on their attitudes. Data of this study were collected from 5 state universities with the contribution of 1617 students from different grades and disciplines. The results showed that YGS had negative washback effects on university students in terms of test anxiety and study habits but considering its impact on students’ time management skills, YGS was reported to have a positive impact on participants.

abur, ummet/0000-0002-4811-9321 WOS: 000433266300039 PubMed: 29661647 Background: Stroke is still a major global health problem in both developed and developing countries. Defining stroke subtype and underlying etiologies is a major step to choose the best method for prophylaxis. Homocysteine is an endothelial toxin and elevated levels have been associated with stroke risk. In this study, we hypothesized that serum total homocysteine level may be related with specific atherothrombotic ischemic stroke subtypes and aimed to find if high serum homocysteine levels are correlated with any specific ischemic stroke subtype. Methods: Patients with ischemic stroke and aged between 18 and 65 are included. Ischemic stroke subtype is defined according to Causative Classification System. Hospital records are examined retrospectively to define patient demographics, ischemic stroke subtype, vascular risk factors, serum homocysteine, B12, and folic acid levels. Results: A total of 262 patients were included. Serum homocysteine level was elevated (>= 16 mu mol/L) in 99 patients (37.79%). The rate of patients with hyperhomocysteinemia was significantly more common in strokes due to intracranial stenosis (72.41%) (odds ratio 8.138; 95% confidence interval 2.366-27.989; P < .01) than extracranial large artery stenosis (52.00%), craniocervical arterial dissections (35.71%), cardioembolic strokes (27.87%), and lacunar infarctions (25.00%) after adjustment for other risk factors. High homocysteine levels were significantly more common in men and smokers (P < .05). Conclusions: Elevated levels of serum homocysteine are correlated with ischemic strokes due to intracranial large artery stenosis in young and middle-aged patients. This association may have an implication in stroke prophylaxis for intracranial atherosclerosis by using homocysteine-lowering therapies.

Sclerosing adenosis (SA) is a benign proliferative type of breast disease affecting the acinar, myoepithelial and connective tissue in the terminal ductal lobular units. Sclerosing adenosis, which gives a nodular appearance on mammography and ultrasonography, is defined as nodular sclerosing adenosis (NSA). NSA is an atypical radiological presentation of SA. Such lesions may arouse suspicions about the reliability of the diagnosis when they receive a diagnosis of SA in the needle biopsies. Therefore, it should be kept in mind that SA may rarely be seen as a nodular mass., Sklerozan adenozis (SA) terminal lobuler ünitte asiner, miyoepitelyal ve konnektif dokuyu etkileyen benign proliferatif tipte bir meme hastalığıdır. Mammografide ve ultrasonografide nodüler ve vizualize SA, nodüler sklerozan adenozis (NSA) olarak tanımlanır. NSA, SA’nın atipik bir radyolojik presentasyonudur. Bu tarz lezyonlar ince ve kalın iğne biyopsilerinde SA tanısı aldığında tanının güvenilirliği açısından kuşku uyandırabilir. SA’nın nadir olarak nodüler kitle şekilde görülebileceği akılda tutulmalıdır.

WOS: 000377907400007 PubMed ID: 27346963 Platelet indices (PI) - plateletcrit, mean platelet volume (MPV) and platelet distribution width (PDW) - are a group of derived platelet parameters obtained as a part of the automatic complete blood count. Emerging evidence suggests that PIs may have diagnostic and prognostic value in certain diseases. This study aimed to summarize the current scientific knowledge on the potential role of PIs as a diagnostic and prognostic marker in patients having emergency, non-traumatic abdominal surgery. In December 2015, we searched Medline/PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar to identify all articles on PIs. Overall, considerable evidence suggests that PIs are altered with acute appendicitis. Although the role of PI in the differential diagnosis of acute abdomen remains uncertain, low MPV might be useful in acute appendicitis and acute mesenteric ischemia, with high MPV predicting poor prognosis in acute mesenteric ischemia. The current lack of consistency and technical standards in studies involving PIs should be regarded as a serious limitation to comparing these studies. Further large, multicentre prospective studies concurrently collecting data from different ethnicities and genders are needed before they can be used in routine clinical practice.

Introduction Association of vitamin D, inflammation and endothelial dysfunction, beside the classic bone metabolism disorders, may explain the pathogenesis of numerous diseases associated with vitamin D deficiency. While large numbers of reports support the relationship of vitamin D with inflammation, several reports fail to confirm this relationship. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are novel and inexpensive markers of inflammation that can be studied in all centers. The goal of this study was to investigate the association between 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) and inflammation with the novel inflammatory markers NLR and PLR. Material and methods This study was performed retrospectively. Results of the simultaneously performed 25(OH)D, parathyroid hormone, albumin, calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase and creatinine level measurements and complete blood count were recorded. The data of 4120 patients were included in the study. Results Between vitamin D deficient and non-deficient groups there were significant differences in PLR (p < 0.001) and NLR (p = 0.001). Vitamin D had a significant negative correlation with PLR (p < 0.001) and NLR (p < 0.001). Multiple regression analysis indicated that 25(OH)D was independently and negatively correlated with PLR (OR = 0.994, 95% CI 0.991–0.998, p = 0.02). Conclusions Platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio and NLR were significantly associated with 25(OH)D levels, and PLR was found to be an independent predictor of 25(OH)D levels. Our study revealed an inverse association of vitamin D levels and inflammation with these inexpensive and universally available markers.

Summary Introduction Whole eye transplantation (WET) holds promise for vision restoration in devastating/disabling visual loss (congenital or traumatic) not amenable to surgical or neuroprosthetic treatment options. The eye includes multiple tissues with distinct embryonic lineage and differential antigenicity. Anatomically and immunologically, the eye is unique due to its avascular (cornea) and highly vascular (retina) components. Our goal was to establish technical feasibility, demonstrate graft viability, and evaluate histologic changes in ocular tissues/adnexae in a novel experimental model of WET that included globe, adnexal, optic nerve (ON), and periorbital soft tissues. Methods Outbred Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 5) received heterotopic vascularized WET from donors. Each WET included the entire globe, adnexa, ON, and periorbital soft tissues supplied by the common carotid artery and external jugular vein. Viability and perfusion were confirmed by clinical examination, angiography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Globe, adnexal, and periorbital tissues were analyzed for histopathologic changes, and the ON was examined for neuro-regeneration at study endpoint (30 days) or Banff Grade 3 rejection in the periorbital skin (whichever was earlier). Results Gross examination confirmed transplant viability and corneal transparency. Average operative duration was 64.0 ± 5.8 min. Average ischemia time was 26.0 ± 4.2 min. MRI revealed loss of globe volume by 36.0 ± 2.8% after transplantation. Histopathology of globe and adnexal tissues showed unique and differential patterns of inflammatory cell infiltration. The ON revealed a neurodegeneration pattern. Conclusion The present study is the first in the literature to establish an experimental model of WET. This model holds significant potential in investigating mechanistic pathways, monitoring strategies or developing management approaches involving ocular viability, immune rejection, and ON regeneration after WET.

This article reports on a descriptive study which attempts to reveal the recent trend in the world, a shift from objective testing to subjective testing not only in achievement tests but also in high stakes testing. Mostly done in ?True-False or Multiple Choice? formats, the so-called objective tests offer administrations nothing but merely a number, which is commonly thought to be objective scoring; however, the need to evaluate higher thinking skills, self-expression, interpretation, imagination and/or subtlety of the test takers stands over there untouched. On one hand, measuring such abilities of learners which would never be assessed by classical methods attracts all the decision makers in educational settings, a burden itself which may be costly, time-consuming and hard to justify on the other. Perhaps most people might agree on the idea that classic tests are too artificial, common and even a 6-year-old child can easily predict the learning outcome and what the reason of the test is without having any prior testing knowledge. Moreover, standardized tests are also taught to force the administrations use the ?guess factor? about the test takers and would not give any clues on the individual differences of the participants. That is why ignoring the standard tests results, more and more face to face interviews and writing exams are conducted in quite many settings including education, business, human relations etc. to better understand if the required qualities could be demonstrated by the candidates in pre-prepared everyday situations.

We aimed to investigate the short-term effect of laparoscopic surgery on serum thiol-disulfide homeostasis levels as a marker of oxidant stress of surgical trauma in elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy patients.Venous blood samples were collected, and levels of native thiols, total thiols, and disulfides were determined with a novel automated assay. Total antioxidant capacity (measured as the ferric-reducing ability of plasma) and serum ischemia modified albumin, expressed as absorbance units assayed by the albumin cobalt binding test, were determined.The major findings of the present study were that native thiol (283 ± 45 versus 241 ± 61 μmol/L), total thiol (313 ± 49 versus 263 ± 67 μmol/L), and disulfide (14.9 ± 4.6 versus 11.0 ± 6.1 μmol/L) levels were decreased significantly during operation and although they increased, they did not return to preoperation levels 24 hours after laparoscopic surgery compared to the levels at baseline. Disulfide/native thiol and disulfide/total thiol levels did not change during laparoscopic surgery.The decrease in plasma level of native and total thiol groups suggests impairment of the antioxidant capacity of plasma; however, the delicate balance between the different redox forms of thiols was maintained during surgery.

Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the factors affecting pain perception of the patients, before and after vaginal and cesarean delivery by using visual analogue scale (VAS).Material and Methods: The study enrolled 50 vaginal and 50 cesarean delivered patients applied to Dumlupinar University Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic between January and March 2015. VAS scores were evaluated and variables were compared via demographic features within groups before and after delivery.Results: In vaginal delivery group, before and after delivery VAS scores were 7.8 ± 2.2 and 7.2 ± 2.4 respectively (P > 0.05). Negative correlation was determined between number of follow-up during pregnancy and after delivery VAS scores (P = 0.007 and r = -0.37). In cesarean group, before and after delivery VAS scores were 6.4 ± 2.0 and 5.3 ± 2.6 respectively (P = 0.03). Unlike vaginal delivery, no correlation was determined between number of follow-up during pregnancy and VAS scores (P > 0.05). Income level, educational status, follow-up center, episiotomy or implementation of labor induction had no effect on VAS scores before and after delivery(P > 0.05) in both groups.Conclusion: Providing psychological support and childbirth education during pregnancy, can reduce the anxiety about the delivery, and can cause less pain perception during the delivery. Childbirth education given by supervised centers, will help to reduce the cesarean section rates due to patient request.Key words: Pregnancy, Pain, Labor, Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı, doğum öncesi ve doğum sonrası, vizüel analog skala (VAS) skorlarının değerlendirilmesi ile sezaryen ve normal doğum yapan hastalarda ağrı algısına etki eden faktörlerin araştırılmasıdır.Gereç ve Yöntemler: Dumlupınar Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Kadın Hastalıkları ve Doğum Kliniğinde Ocak-Mart 2015 tarihleri arasında toplam 50 sezaryen ile doğum yapmış ve 50 normal doğum yapmış hasta çalışmaya alındı. Doğum öncesi ve sonrası VAS skorları değerlendirildi ve hastaların demografik özellikleri göz önüne alınarak veriler grup içi karşılaştırıldı.Bulgular: Normal doğum grubunda doğum öncesi ve sonrası VAS değerleri ortalaması sırasıyla 7,8 ± 2,2 ve 7,2 ± 2,4 olarak saptandı (P > 0,05). Gebelikteki izlem sayısı ile doğum sonrası VAS değerleri arasında negatif ilgileşim olduğu görüldü (P = 0,007 ve r = -0,37). Sezaryen grubunda doğum öncesi ve sonrası VAS ortalamaları sırasıyla 6,4 ± 2,0 ve 5,3 ± 2,6 olarak saptandı (P = 0,03). Vajinal doğumdan farklı olarak izlem sayısı VAS skorları arasında ilişki olmadığı saptandı (P > 0,05). Her iki grupta gelir düzeyinin, eğitim durumunun, izlem yerinin, epizyotomi açılmış olmasının veya eylem indüksiyon uygulanmasının doğum öncesi ve sonrası VAS değerlerine etki etmediği izlendi (P > 0,05).Sonuçlar: Gebelik süresince doğumla ilgili eğitim ve psikolojik destek vermek hastanın doğum ve ağrısına dair endişesini azaltarak, doğum esnasında daha az ağrı hissetmesini sağlayabilir. Denetimli gebelik okullarında verilecek eğitim, hastanın vajinal doğuma yönelmesini sağlayarak, hasta isteğine bağlı olan sezaryen sayılarının düşmesi ve sezaryen oranlarının azalmasına yardımcı olabilir.Anahtar kelimeler: Gebelik, Ağrı, Doğum ağrısı

Amaç: Adölesan ve yetişkin gebeliklerde hemoglo- bin (Hb) konsantrasyonlarını karşılaştırmak. Gereç ve Yöntem: Ağrı-Patnos Devlet Hastanesin- de yapılan bu çalışmaya 679 gebe dahil edildi. Adö- lesan (yaş, Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the hemoglobin (Hb) levels between adolescent preg- nant women and control groups. Material and Method: This study is performed on Ağrı-Patnos State Hospital. 679 patients were en- rolled into the study; 119 (17.5%) pregnant wo- men in the adolescent group (age

Background Aim. In case of high-dose acetaminophen intake, the active metabolite can not bind to the glutathione, thereby inducing cellular necrosis through binding to the cytosol proteins. This trial was performed to histologically and biochemically investigate whether leptin was protective against liver damage induced by paracetamol at toxic doses.Material and Method. In our trial, 30 female rats, divided into 5 groups, were used. IP leptin administration was performed after an hour in the group of rats, in which paracetamol poisoning was induced. The groups were as follows: Group 1: the control group, Group 2: 20 µg/kg leptin, Group 3: 2 g/kg paracetamol, Group 4: 2 g/kg paracetamol + 10 µg/kg leptin, and Group 5: 2 g/kg paracetamol + 20 µg/kg leptin.Results. The most significant increase was observed in the PARA 2 g/kg group, while the best improvement among the treatment groups occurred in the PARA 2 g/kg + LEP 10 µg/kg group (p< 0.05). While the most significant glutathione (GSH) reduction was observed in the PARA 2 g/kg group, the best improvement was in the PARA 2 g/kg + LEP 10 µg/kg group (p< 0.05).Conclusion. Liver damage occurring upon paracetamol poisoning manifests with hepatocyte breakdown occurring as a result of inflammation and oxidative stress. Leptin can prevent this damage thanks to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory efficacy.

In multisensor data analysis, scene details can be extracted via subspace methods without any prior information on the scene. In these decomposition techniques, data is projected into a new space so that the information in the data is highlighted. In this study, Principal Component Analysis, Independent Component Analysis and Minumum Noise Fractions method are applied to a multi-sensor data composed of radar, visible, and infrared images. Canonical correlations between these subspaces are investigated via Canonical Correlation Analysis. This equalization subspace offers a new point of view in the realm of multi-sensor data analysis.

Ozcan, Onder/0000-0001-8252-3339 WOS: 000215169000036 PubMed ID: 25548688 Fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) is essential in the diagnosis and management of thyroid nodules. In this paper, we report a rare complication, cutaneous sinus formation, after diagnostic FNAB guided by palpation. Sixty-three-year-old female patient was admitted with the complaints of hoarseness and discharge from the anterior neck wall which were present for the last 6 months. The patient underwent a near total thyroidectomy 17 years ago. Recurrent nodular goiter was detected six months before and a diagnostic FNAB guided by palpation was performed. Two weeks later the patient had wound discharge and hoarseness. Physical examination of the patient revealed a sinus, which was located superior to the thyroidectomy incision. A 1 cm nodule was palpated in the left side of her neck. A cervical ultrasonography (USG) showed a 9 x 7mm nodule in the remnant thyroid and a 9.5 x 3.5mm fistulized fluid collection. The patient underwent sinus tract and remnant thyroid removal. This case report presents a cutaneous sinus formation deriving from the granulation tissue, probably due to the silk suture reaction in the previous surgery, by the FNAB guided by palpation procedure. We suggest USG guided FNAB to achieve more accurate and safe diagnosis in evaluating the thyroid nodules.

Background In our emergency department, we collect blood in Rapid Serum Tubes (RSTs; Becton Dickinson, Franklin Lakes, NJ), in which clotting times are reduced. We investigated the influence of RST use on cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) and creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) test results, in comparison with the use of tubes featuring a separator gel containing a clotting activator (SSTs; Green-vac, Yongin, Korea). Methods Samples from 60 patients were divided into equal aliquots and placed into RSTs and SSTs; hs-cTnT and CK-MB concentrations were determined using an autoanalyzer (Elecsys 2010) running commercial assays (Roche Diagnostics, Penzberg, Germany). Between-tube differences in CK-MB and hs-cTnT values were compared using the paired t-test, and correlations among variables were evaluated by calculation of Spearman correlation coefficients (r values). Deming regression analysis was performed and Bland-Altman plots were constructed. Results The hs-cTnT and CK-MB test results obtained from samples placed into RSTs and SSTs did not differ (p > 0.1). The correlations between the concentrations of hs-cTnT and CK-MB in samples placed into RSTs and SSTs were good; both r values were unity (p

In blind scene analysis, the aim is to obtain information about background and targets without any prior information. Blind methods can be considered as pre-processing steps for scene understanding. By means of blind signal separation methodologies, anomalies can be detected and these anomalies can be exploited for target detection. There are many imaging sensor systems which uses different properties of the emittance or the reflectance characteristics of the scene components. Spectral reflectance properties are related to the material composition and these multispectral characteristics can be exploited for detection, identification and classification of the scene components. As the light scattered from the scene elements shows polarization, polarized measurements can be used as extra features. Multispectral and polarimetric images of a scene provide information to some level and this information can be used to get further information on the scene and to facilitate detection. In this study, spectral and polarimetric images of a scene are analyzed via Canonical Correlation Analysis (CCA) which is a powerful multivariate statistical methodology. Multispectral and polarimetric data (spectro-polarimetric data) are treated as two different sets. Canonical variants obtained by CCA give different scene components such as background elements and some man-made objects. The linear relationship of the polarimetric and multispectral data of the same scene is also obtained by CCA.

In hyperspectral data analysis, blind separation of the target and background can be considered as a pre-processing step in the target detection process. Blind Source Separation (BSS) techniques can be used when there is no prior information on the scene for image understanding. Previously, Principal Component Analysis and Independent Component Analysis methods are used as blind techniques for the analysis of hyperspectral data. In this study, we propose a blind analysis methodology based on Canonical Correlation Analysis (CCA) for the analysis of hyperspectral data sets. CCA is a multivariate method of analysis for the exploration of the data structures which extremize the correlations between two data sets. The hyperspectral data analyzed in this study is the HyMap sensor data which is available in the Target Detection Blind Test website. We produce two data sets out of the HyMap data cube which are later subjected to CCA. In the creation of these data sets, two different approaches are used. In first case, the HyMap data cube is simply divided into two sub-cubes by simple spectral separation. As another approach, the second data cube is derived from the HyMap data by a spatial filtering. In both cases, two data sets are analyzed via CCA and canonical variates of these data sets are obtained. The scene components are obtained from images expressed by the canonical variates obtained via CCA. The CCA methodology and its use as a blind analysis tools is presented on the HyMap data.

For image understanding and performing detection, recognition and identification functions, different features representing the scene should be extracted from different images of the scene. From the images of the scene captured by different sensors, such as operating at different bands, different features can be obtained. For sensor fusion, first the difference in the information content of these separate data should be assessed. In this study, demonstration of the use of Multiple Canonical Correlation Analysis (MCCA) for information extraction from the multi-sensor data is provided. From the registered data captured with three different cameras, multiple images are obtained by pixel shifting methodology and analyzed via MCCA. The scene details are obtained from the canonical variates and the level of mutual information of these new data sets is determined via canonical correlations.

Introduction: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common types of infection. Currently, diagnosis is primarily based on microbiologic culture, which is time- and labor-consuming. The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of urinalysis results from UriSed (77 Electronica, Budapest, Hungary), an automated microscopic image-based sediment analyzer, in predicting positive urine cultures. Materials and methods: We examined a total of 384 urine specimens from hospitalized patients and outpatients attending our hospital on the same day for urinalysis, dipstick tests and semi-quantitative urine culture. The urinalysis results were compared with those of conventional semiquantitative urine culture. Results: Of 384 urinary specimens, 68 were positive for bacteriuria by culture, and were thus considered true positives. Comparison of these results with those obtained from the UriSed analyzer indicated that the analyzer had a specifi city of 91.1%, a sensitivity of 47.0%, a positive predictive value (PPV) of 53.3% (95% confi dence interval (CI) = 40.8-65.3), and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 88.8% (95% Cl = 85.0-91.8%) . The accuracy was 83.3% when the urine leukocyte parameter was used, 76.8% when bacteriuria analysis of urinary sediment was used, and 85.1% when the bacteriuria and leukocyturia parameters were combined. The presence of nitrite was the best indicator of culture positivity (99.3% specifi city) but had a negative likelihood ratio of 0.7, indicating that it was not a reliable clinical test. Conclusions: Although the specifi city of the UriSed analyzer was within ac ceptable limits, the sensitivity value was low. Thus, UriSed urinalysis results do not accurately predict the outcome of culture.

Background Electrolyte values are measured in most critically ill intensive care unit (ICU) patients using both an arterial blood gas analyzer (ABG) and a central laboratory auto-analyzer (AA). The aim of the present study was to investigate whether electrolyte levels assessed using an ABG and an AA were equivalent; data on sodium and potassium ion concentrations were examined. Methods We retrospectively studied patients hospitalized in the ICU between July and August 2011. Of 1,105 test samples, we identified 84 instances of simultaneous sampling of arterial and venous blood, where both Na+ and K+ levels were measured using a pHOx Stat Profile Plus L blood gas analyzer (Nova Biomedical, Waltham MA, USA) and a Roche Modular P autoanalyzer (Roche Diagnostics, Mannheim, Germany). Statistical measures employed to compare the data included Spearman's correlation coefficients, paired Student’s t-tests, Deming regression analysis, and Bland-Altman plots. Results The mean sodium concentration was 138.1 mmol/L (SD 10.2 mmol/L) using the ABG and 143.0 mmol/L (SD 10.5) using the AA (p + and Na+, with biases of 0.150-0.352 and −0.97-10.05 respectively; the associated correlation coefficients were 0.88 and 0.90. Conclusions We conclude that the ABG and AA do not yield equivalent Na+ and K+ data. Concordance between ABG and AA should be established prior to introduction of new ABG systems.

Extraction of scene components is one of the main problems in the analysis of remotely sensed hyperspectral images. Scene components can be identified by applications of blind methods. In this study, two novel applications of Canonical Correlation Analysis (CCA) are proposed for the blind analysis of hyperspectral images.

In the color cognition process of a scene, there is no use of the atmosphere, surface reflectance and illuminant interaction. Therefore, the color perception is blind. The color perception in human brain is directly related to the response of retinal photodetector tissues. Are there only three detectors in the retina; Red, Green, Blue detectors; or are there many? Is spectral band clustering related to color perception? These are some of the questions we like to address. In this study, hierarchical band clustering is applied to the scenes obtained with visible band hyperpsectral cameras and tentative approach is proposed for color complexity.

Introduction: The aim of the present study was to validate prothrombin time (PT) international nor-malized ratio (INR) results obtained using Steelex test reagents and a Steelex coagulometer (Steelex Scientific Instrument Company, Beijing, China), in comparison with use of a well-established standard test employing Pacific Hemostasis reagents (Fisher Diagnostics, Middletown, VA, USA) and Teco Coatron A4 coagulometer (Teco Medical Instruments GmbH, Neufahrn, Germany). Materials and methods: Between- and within-day coefficients of variation (CVs) of both assays were calculated using control samples provided by the test manufacturers. Samples from 90 subjects were collected and INR values were determined in a double-blind parallel manner employing both systems. Results: The within-day coefficients of variation (CVs) in INR estimates ranged from 2.6% (INR = 1.12) to 3.1% (INR = 2.51) for the Steelex system and from 2.1% (INR = 1.09) to 1.8% (INR = 2.8) for the Pacific test; the between-day values ran from 3.4% (INR = 1.16) to 7.9% (INR = 2.64) and from 3.3% (INR = 1.1) to 2.3% (INR = 2.7), respectively. Passing-Bablok fit of the of the Steelex and Pacific methods yielded the equation: Steelex INR = 0.85 (0.79-0.91) × Pacific INR + 0.12 (-0.02-0.21), whereas the CUSUM linearity P value was

In spectroscopy, for material detection and identification applications, spectral libraries are used as reference databases. In spectral libraries, there are spectral reflectance signatures of many materials in electro-optical and optical wavelengths. Sometimes, in spectral libraries, different subclasses of the same materials are included. In material identification applications with hyperspectral images, instead of using directly, spectral libraries can be used after band reduction by using band reduction techniques and the main materials can be estimated by using clustering techniques; in this study, these usage are proposed for a more efficient use of libraries. In this study, for any spectral library, hierarchical clustering methods are proposed for both band reduction and material clustering.

Unsupervised learning and blind signal decomposition methods are used for recovering unknown source signals from their linear mixtures using the observed data only. In these methods, a new representation of the data can reveal some hidden information inherent in the data. In this study, principal component analysis, independent component analysis and non-negative matrix factorization methodologies are applied on a single image for extracting information and image enhancement.

WOS: 000363420200058 PubMed ID: 26458631 Papillary and follicular thyroid carcinomas (FTCs) have a slowly biological behavior. Most distant metastasis sites are lung and bones. Breast and liver metastasis from differentiated thyroid carcinomas is uncommon. To the best of our knowledge, in English literature follicular thyroid cancer that is metastasis to breast was only in two female cases and to liver was in five patients. Herein, we present a case in whose 68-year-old woman who had a history FTC metastasis to vertebrae and synchronously developed breast and liver metastases within 1 year after first diagnosis. MINI ABSTRACT In this article, a female patient with metastatic follicular thyroid carcinoma which has rare metastatic sites, breast and liver, synchronously and literatures were presented.

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Variation of the atmospheric refraction index due to turbulent fluctuations is one of the key factors that affect the performance of electro-optical and infrared systems and sensors. Therefore, any prior knowledge about the degree of variation in the refractive index is critical in the success of field studies such as search and rescue missions, military applications, and remote sensing studies where these systems are used frequently. There are many studies in the literature in which the optical turbulence effects are modeled by estimation of the refractive index structure parameter, C-n(2), from meteorological data for all levels of the atmosphere. This paper presents a modified approach for bulk-method-based C-n(2) estimation. According to this approach, conventional wind speed, humidity, and temperature values above the surface by at least two levels are used as input data for Monin-Obukhov similarity theory in the estimation of similarity scaling constants with a finite difference approximation and a bulk-method-based C-n(2) estimation. Compared with the bulk method, this approach provides the potential for using more than two levels of standard meteorological data, application of the scintillation effects of estimated C-n(2) on the images, and a much simpler solution than traditional ones due to elimination of the roughness parameters, which are difficult to obtain and which increase the complexity, the execution time, and the number of additional input parameters of the algorithm. As a result of these studies, Atmospheric Turbulence Model Software is developed and the results are validated in comparison to the C-n(2) model presented by Tunick. (c) 2013 Optical Society of America