A High performance and low cost hardware arcitecture for H.264 transform and quantization algorithms

In this paper, we present a high performance and low cost hardware architecture for real-time implementation of forward transform and quantization and inverse transform and quantization algorithms used in H.264 / MPEG4 Part 10 video coding standard. The hard-ware architecture is based on a reconfigurable datapath with only one multiplier. This hardware is designed to be used as part of a complete low power H.264 video coding system for portable appli-cations. The proposed architecture is implemented in Verilog HDL. The Verilog RTL code is verified to work at 81 MHz in a Xilinx Virtex II FPGA and it is verified to work at 210 MHz in a 0.18´ ASIC implementation. The FPGA and ASIC implementations can code 27 and 70 VGA frames (640x480) per second respectively

A reconfigurable frame interpolation hardware architecture for high definition video

Since Frame Rate Up-Conversion (FRC) is started to be used in recent consumer electronics products like High Definition TV, real-time and low cost implementation of FRC algorithms has become very important. Therefore, in this paper, we propose a low cost hardware architecture for realtime implementation of frame interpolation algorithms. The proposed hardware architecture is reconfigurable and it allows adaptive selection of frame interpolation algorithms for each Macroblock. The proposed hardware architecture is implemented in VHDL and mapped to a low cost Xilinx XC3SD1800A-4 FPGA device. The implementation results show that the proposed hardware can run at 101 MHz on this FPGA and consumes 32 BRAMs and 15384 slices

Dynamically variable step search motion estimation algorithm and a dynamically reconfigurable hardware for its implementation

Motion Estimation (ME) is the most computationally intensive part of video compression and video enhancement systems. For the recently available High Definition (HD) video formats, the computational complexity of De full search (FS) ME algorithm is prohibitively high, whereas the PSNR obtained by fast search ME algorithms is low. Therefore, ill this paper, we present Dynamically Variable Step Search (DVSS) ME algorithm for Processing high definition video formats and a dynamically reconfigurable hardware efficiently implementing DVSS algorithm. The architecture for efficiently implementing DVSS algorithm. The simulation results showed that DVSS algorithm performs very close to FS algorithm by searching much fewer search locations than FS algorithm and it outperforms successful past search ME algorithms by searching more search locations than these algorithms. The proposed hardware is implemented in VHDL and is capable, of processing high definition video formats in real time. Therefore, it can be used in consumer electronics products for video compression, frame rate up-conversion and de-interlacing(1)

Increase in serum and salivary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin levels with increased periodontal inflammation

Objective: This study aimed to determine serum and salivary levels of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and evaluate NGAL correlation with key anti-interleukin 10 (IL-10) and pro-inflammatory (IL-1β) cytokines in different severities of periodontal diseases. We also calculated the systemic inflammation using the periodontal inflamed surface area (PISA) to evaluate its correlation with NGAL in the study groups. Methodology: Eighty systemically healthy and non-smoking individuals were separated into four groups of 20: clinically healthy (Group 1), gingivitis (Group 2), stage I generalized periodontitis (Group 3, Grade A), and stage III generalized periodontitis (Group 4, Grade A). Sociodemographic characteristics and periodontal parameters were recorded, and PISA was calculated. The serum and salivary levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-10, and NGAL were determined using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: We observed a significant increase in serum and salivary NGAL levels from healthy to periodontitis groups (p=0.000). Group 2 presented significantly higher serum and salivary IL-10 levels and salivary IL-1β levels than Group 3 (p=0.000). Serum and salivary parameters (IL-1β, IL-10, and NGAL levels) were strongly positively correlated to periodontal parameters and PISA values (p=0.000). Groups 2 and 3 showed overlapping PISA values. Conclusion: The overlapping PISA values found in Groups 2 and 3 suggest that gingivitis might progress to a systemic inflammatory burden somewhat comparable to stage I periodontitis. This finding is supported by the higher serum and salivary cytokines/mediators levels in the gingivitis group than in stage I periodontitis group. Serum and salivary NGAL levels increased proportionally to disease severity and PISA. NGAL seems to play a role in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease, within the limitation of our study

Investigation of the Pathogenesis and Treatment Efficiency of Bevacizumab-Induced Hypertension in the Rat Model

Bevacizumab is known to reduce Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) to undetectable levels when used in conjunction with chemotherapy. Hypertension is a frequent adverse effect of bevacizumab, although its mechanism(s) remain unclear. In this study, our aim was to examine the pathogenesis of bevacizumab-induced hypertension and to investigate the treatment efficacy of valsartan. A total of 24 Wistar Albino female rats were included in the study. Rats were divided into three groups with 8 rats in each, as follows: The control group, bevacizumab group and bevacizumab + valsartan group. Blood pressure, blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine levels were measured, urine samples were collected for 24 hours statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS 20 software pack. Nephrectomy specimens in bevacizumab and bevacizumab + valsartan groups exhibited varying degrees of renal injury. Although valsartan was able to reduce the bevacizumab-induced rise in blood pressure, it could not prevent the development of nephropathy. Conclusions these findings suggest that hypertension occurring secondary to bevacizumab treatment in rats may be associated with mechanisms involving renal injury

Management of persistent coccydynia with transrectal manipulation: Results of a combined procedure

WOS: 000431533600030PubMed ID: 29234884We compared the results of manual therapy combined with steroid injection with single steroid injection in the treatment of persistent coccydynia. Combined therapy was performed in 21 patients (Group 1) and steroid injection in 23 patients (Group 2). We compared two groups and investigated the combined therapy group in details. Patients were classified according to the underlying cause, BMI, anatomic type of coccyx and duration of symptoms (<6 or 6 months). Mean age was 30.5 years at the time of procedures. Mean followup time was 27.8 months. VAS scores were decreased in both groups but combined therapy group had much more better results. Complete pain relief was achieved in 61.9% of patients in Group 1 whereas it was only 17.4% in Group 2. In 23.8% of Group 1, the VAS score was significantly decreased but the feeling of uncomfortability persisted. This was 73.9% in Group 2. We had no relapse in Group 1 but in Group 2 the relapse rate was 56.5%. Underlying cause, body mass index, anatomic type of coccyx and duration of symptoms had no effect on results. Manual therapy combined with steroid injection would be an alternative method in case of persistent coccydynia. It is a safe and easy option before surgical treatment

The Relationship Between Vitamin D Gene Polymorphisms and the Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer in Patients with High Prostate-Specific Antigen Value

Objective: To investigate the effects of vitamin D levels and vitamin D receptor (VDR) BsmI, FokI, TaqI, and ApaI gene polymorphisms on prostate cancer (PCa)diagnosis in Turkish men with high prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels during screening.Materials and Methods: Patients who were admitted to the outpatient clinic with elevated PSA levels and were scheduled for transrectal prostate biopsy wereincluded. Patients diagnosed with PCa were divided into two groups of either localized disease (low/intermediate/high risk) or metastatic disease for subgroupanalysis. The control group comprised patients whose biopsies revealed benign pathologies. Blood samples were collected from each patient after 12 hours offasting before the prostate biopsy. Vitamin D levels and VDR gene polymorphisms were determined by ECLIA method and restriction fragment length polymorphismanalysis, respectively.Results: A total of 77 patients (PCa, 39; benign, 38) were included in the study. The frequencies of BsmI, FokI, TaqI, and ApaI genotypes for PCa and benigngroups were evaluated. Vitamin D deficiency was detected in 88.6% and 94.9% of the benign and PCa groups, respectively (p=0.176). The FokI Ff and BsmI bbgenotypes, and FokI FF and BsmI Bb genotypes were found to be more common in the PCa and benign groups, respectively. ApaI Aa and TaqI Tt were found tobe more frequent in both groups. In patients with metastatic PCa; Bsml Bb genotype, Apal Aa genotype, and Taql Tt genotypes were found to be more common.Conclusion: Although Bsml Bb genotype, Apal Aa genotype, and Taql Tt genotypes were more commonly found in patients with metastatic PCa, further studieswith increased sample sizes are needed to support this relationship in the Turkish PCa population

A decision support system to evaluate the competitiveness of nations

The measurement of competitiveness and strategy development is an important issue for policy makers. The aim of this paper is to explore methodological transparency as a viable solution to problems created by existing aggregated indices as well as to conduct a detailed analysis on the ongoing performance of nations’ competitiveness. For this purpose, a methodology composed of three steps is used. To start, a combined clustering analysis methodology is used to assign countries to appropriate clusters. In current methods, country clustering is generally based on GDP. However, we suggest that GDP alone is insufficient to define the stage of competitiveness a country belongs. In the proposed methodology, 135 criteria are used for a proper classification of the countries. Relationships between the criteria and classification of the countries are determined using Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs). ANN provides an objective method for determining the attribute/criteria weights, which are, for the most part, subjectively specified in existing methods. Finally, in the third step, the countries of interest are ranked based on weights generated in the previous step. Beyond the ranking of countries, the proposed methodology can also be used to identify those attributes that a given country should focus on in order to improve its position relative to other countries, i.e., to transition from its current cluster to the next higher one. As a final analysis, the dynamic change of the rank of the countries over years has also been investigated

Açıköğretim ile 40 Yıl: Uygulamalar ve Araştırmalar

It is a great pleasure to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Anadolu University Open Education System. On this special occasion, we are honoured to write a foreword to this book prepared with great pride and excitement. Founded 40 years ago, Anadolu University Open Education System took a revolutionary step in the field of higher education in our country. This system has increased accessibility to educational opportunities and ensured that everyone has the opportunity to learn equally and fairly. This unique and innovative approach has enabled thousands of students to turn their dreams into reality, and today it has turned into a great success story with millions of graduates. This book invites its readers on a journey that reflects the 40-year experience of Anadolu University Open Education System. It shares the work of the units, managers, academicians and employees who have achieved countless successes in the process from the establishment of the system until today. At the same time, it touches upon the difficulties encountered in this process, the labour and effort behind the successes, and the innovations and developments in the system. In this sense, the 40-year journey of the open education system is covered in this book through scientific research studies, the narration of the historical witnesses of the development and the evaluation of the practices, and the presentation of suggestions for the development of the system. Accordingly, the book consists of two parts. In the first part, the description of the important components of the system such as applications, learning environments, activities of the units, quality, learner evaluation, student services, etc. carried out in Anadolu University Open Education System are presented within the historical development and the points they have reached today. In the second part, researches on the evaluation and development of the open education system are presented. While preparing this book, we have seen how Anadolu University Open Education System has grown with its creativity, belief in learning and search for continuous development. At the same time, we have closely witnessed the opportunities it offers to its students and the transformation in their lives. This book will be an important resource for shaping our vision for the future as well as evaluating our past. We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Anadolu University Open Education System on its 40th anniversary, sincerely congratulate everyone who has contributed to this success, and thank all the authors who have contributed to this book. As the editors, we hope that the book will be a tool to celebrate our past, share our achievements and inspire the future