Efficiency of Buttress Form on the Out-of-plane Resistance of Masonry Walls Subjected to Vault Thrust

Many historical buildings are covered with vaults or domes. This study investigates the effectiveness of the buttress form on the lateral (out-of-plane) resistance of masonry walls subjected to the inclined vault thrust. For this purpose, a basic calculation model was created from an existing historical masonry building. Calculation models were obtained by adding buttresses which have various forms but equal volumes to this model. In addition to the most commonly rectangular, trapezoidal, and triangular buttresses, two-stepped, concave curvilinear, and semi-cylindrical buttresses were also considered. Nonlinear static analyses were performed on the models with Abaqus software. By considering one side (half) of the calculation models, inclined thrust force versus wall top section lateral displacement graphs were obtained, and the effectiveness of the buttress form on the lateral resistance of the building was determined. It has been observed that the structure has the highest out-of-plane resistance (5700 kN and 5431 kN) when supported by triangular and curvilinear concave buttresses, respectively, and the lowest resistance (1549 kN) when supported by semi-cylindrical buttresses. In the study, the effects of three parameters, depth, thickness and height of the buttress, on the lateral resistance of the building were also investigated by considering only the rectangular buttressed model. These parameters were found to have significant effects on the resistance as expected

Assessment of cardiac ultrasonography in predicting outcome in adult cardiac arrest

Objective: A prospective follow-up study to evaluate the ability of cardiac ultrasonography performed by emergency physicians to predict resuscitation outcome in adult cardiac arrest patients. METHODS: Ultrasonographic examination of the subxiphoid cardiac area was made immediately on presentation to the emergency department with pulseless cardiac arrest. Sonographic cardiac activity was defined as any detected motion within the heart including the atria, ventricles or valves. Successful resuscitation was defined as any of: return of spontaneous circulation for ≥ 20 min; return of breathing; palpable pulse; measurable blood pressure. RESULTS: The study enrolled 149 patients over an 18-month period. The presence of sonographic cardiac activity at the beginning of resuscitation was significantly associated with a successful outcome (19/27 [70.4%] versus 55/122 [45.1%] patients without cardiac activity at the beginning of resuscitation). CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasono -graphic detection of cardiac activity may be useful in determining prognosis during cardiac arrest. Further studies are needed to elucidate the predictive value of ultrasonography in cardiac arrest patients. © 2012 Field House Publishing LLP

Kafa travmasında kafa içi basınç ve hipotalamo-hipofizer- gonadal aks arasındaki ilişkinin değerlendirilmesi

Objective: Head traumas have an important place among all traumatic injuries and it is an important public health problem worldwide. Novel methods predicting prognosis may contribute to a decrease in the mortality and morbidity rates.Materials and Methods: Continuous intracranial pressure '(ICP) measurements, initial cerebral computed tomography '(CT) and measurement of the hypothalamicpituitary- gonadal '(HPG) axis hormones between the 0th and 4th days were performed in 15 adult male patients with severe head trauma. The relationship of these parameters with the short-term results of the patients on the 15th day was evaluated. Additionally, provocation tests were carried out to evaluate the HPG axis function.Results: High ICP and compression of basal cisterna increased mortality and they were found to affect prognosis `(p=0.009 and p=0.033, respectively) No statistically significant association was found between midline shift and prognosis. No relationship was found between mortality and mean basal hormone values on the 0th day and between the 1st and 4th days.Conclusion: ICP measurement values and the presence of compression of basal cistern on the initial brain CT can be used to predict the prognosis in severe head injury but there is no significant relationship between hypophyseal hormone values and prognosis

Determination of heavy metal pollution in Zonguldak (Turkey) by moss analysis (Hypnum cupressiforme)

This paper explores the first attempt at determining the levels of atmospheric heavy metal contamination in the Zonguldak province through the analysis of moss (Hypnum cupressiforme Hedw.). Sampling was performed at 24 sites after a wet period to avoid contamination from soil compounds in the province. Dried samples, which were unwashed but cleaned of soil particles and other extraneous material, were digested with HNO3/HClO4. Concentrations of heavy metals (Fe, Cu, Pb, Cr, Co, Ni, and As) were analyzed by ICP-OES to estimate the geographic distribution of the atmospheric heavy metal depositions. The general order of the concentrations of the heavy metal content in Hypnum cupressiforme Hedw. was observed to be Fe > Pb > Cu > Ni > Cr > As > Co. Mean levels of the measured elements were higher when compared to European levels. Arsenic, iron, and chromium were the most elevated elements when compared with European data. The mean concentrations of these elements in the studied area were 8.3 (Co), 6.7 (Fe), 5.2 (Cr), 4.6 (As), and 2.7 (Ni) times the background levels of the reference site (C3). Among the studied heavy metals, only lead showed little variation in measured values due to traffic in the area. Main sources of increased heavy metal content of the moss samples were found to be: i) the Çatalagzi Power Plant (CATES); ii) the Eregli Iron-Steel Plant (ERDEMIR); iii) space heating; and iv) traffic-related emissions. Results are presented in the form of color-scaled contour maps using a Geographic Information System (GIS)-based mapping technique. © Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. 2009

The validity and reliability of the social communication questionnaire-Turkish form in autistics aged 4-18 years

Objective: The Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) is a valid and reliable 40-item scale used to assess pervasive developmental disorders (PDDs). The aim of this study was to determine the validity and reliability of the SCQ-Turkish Form (SCQ-TF). Materials and Methods: The study included 100 children and adolescents aged 4-18 years; 50 were diagnosed as PDD and 50 were diagnosed with intellectual disability (ID) based on DSM-IV-TR criteria. The consistency, test-retest reliability, content validity, and discriminant validity of SCQTF for the groups in the study sample were evaluated. SCQ-TF was compared to the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS), Autism Behavioural Checklist (ABC), and Clinical Global Impression-Severity of Illness (CGI-SI). The most appropriate SCQ-TF cut-off point was determined via ROC analysis. Results: The 4-factor structure of SCQ-TF accounted for 43.0% of the observed total variance. Correlations between SCQ-TF and the other measures were significant. The Cronbach's alpha value for the SCQ-TF total score was 0.80. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) varied between 0.87 and 0.96, and the cut-off point was 15. Conclusion: The findings show that SCQ-TF is valid and reliable for use in Turkey in those aged 4-18 years

The Validity and Reliability of the Turkish Version of the Social Communication Questionnaire

OBJECTIVE: The Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) is a valid and reliable 40-item scale used to assess pervasive developmental disorders (PDDs). The aim of this study was to determine the validity and reliability of the SCQ-Turkish Form (SCQ-TF). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 100 children and adolescents aged 4-18 years; 50 were diagnosed as PDD and 50 were diagnosed with intellectual disability (ID) based on DSM-IV-TR criteria. The consistency, test-retest reliability, content validity, and discriminant validity of SCQ-TF for the groups in the study sample were evaluated. SCQ-TF was compared to the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS), Autism Behavioural Checklist (ABC), and Clinical Global Impression-Severity of Illness (CGI-SI). The most appropriate SCQ-TF cut-off point was determined via ROC analysis. RESULTS: The 4-factor structure of SCQ-TF accounted for 43.0% of the observed total variance. Correlations between SCQ-TF and the other measures were significant. The Cronbach's alpha value for the SCQ-TF total score was 0.80. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) varied between 0.87 and 0.96, and the cut-off point was 15. CONCLUSION: The findings show that SCQ-TF is valid and reliable for use in Turkey in those aged 4-18 years