A Single-Field Finite-Difference Time-Domain Formulations for Electromagnetic Simulations

In this dissertation, a set of general purpose single-field finite-difference time-domain updating equations for solving electromagnetic problems is derived. The formulation uses a single-field expression for full-wave solution. This formulation can provide numerical results similar to those obtained using the traditional formulation with less required computer resources. Traditional finite-difference time-domain updating equations are based on Maxwell\u27s curl equations whereas the single-field updating equations used here are based on the vector wave equation. General formulations are derived for normal and oblique incidence plane wave cases for linear, isotropic, homogeneous and non-dispersive as well as dispersive media. To compare the single-field updating equations with the traditional ones, two-dimensional transverse magnetic, two-dimensional transverse electric and one-dimensional electromagnetic problems are solved. Fields generated by a current sheet and a filament electric current are calculated for one and two-dimensional formulations, respectively. Performance analyses of the single-field formulation in terms of CPU time, memory requirement, stability, dispersion, and accuracy are presented. Based on the simulations of several two-dimensional problems excited by a filament of electric current, it was observed that the single-field method is more efficient than the traditional one in terms of speed and memory requirements. One scattering problem consisting of three infinitely long dielectric cylinders excited by an obliquely incident plane wave and another scattering problem consisting of a point source exciting a dispersive sphere, utilizing Lorentz-Drude model, are also formulated and analyzed. The numerical results obtained confirmed the validity and efficiency of the single-field formulations

Cranium metastasis of HPV positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas rarely cause cranial metastases, but HPV related subgroup is known for unusual metastasis sites on the body. Despite the good overall treatment responses in this group, intracranial metastases are always accepted as a sign of rapid deterioration. We present a case of cranium metastasis of HPV related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, which had been very well responded to the treatment for years but deteriorates in a short period after the cranium metastasis

Short-term wind speed forecasting system using deep learning for wind turbine applications

It is very important to accurately detect wind direction and speed for wind energy that is one of the essential sustainable energy sources. Studies on the wind speed forecasting are generally carried out for long-term predictions. One of the main reasons for the long-term forecasts is the correct planning of the area where the wind turbine will be built due to the high investment costs and long-term returns. Besides that, short-term forecasting is another important point for the efficient use of wind turbines. In addition to estimating only average values, making instant and dynamic short-term forecasts are necessary to control wind turbines. In this study, short-term forecasting of the changes in wind speed between 1-20 minutes using deep learning was performed. Wind speed data was obtained instantaneously from the feedback of the emulated wind turbine's generator. These dynamically changing data was used as an input of the deep learning algorithm. Each new data from the generator was used as both test and training input in the proposed approach. In this way, the model accuracy and enhancement were provided simultaneously. The proposed approach was turned into a modular independent integrated system to work in various wind turbine applications. It was observed that the system can predict wind speed dynamically with around 3% error in the applications in the test setup applications

Association between health literacy and medication adherence in the elderly population with chronic disease

Background: Medication adherence is a key factor in the therapy of chronic diseases in older people. It is important to investigate the effect of health literacy on medication adherence in this patient population. Health literacy can be summarized as an individual’s ability to understand and interpret the provided medical information and to behave appropriately based on this information. Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between health literacy and medication adherence in older people with chronic disease. Methods: A total of 175 patients admitted to the family health center clinic in Bursa, Turkey, who were older than 65 years old, were enrolled in this cross-sectional study using the convenience sampling method. A priori power analysis was conducted to determine the required sample size to reach 90% power. The Turkish version of the 8-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8) was used to assess medication adherence. The European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire (HLS-EU-Q47) was used to evaluate health literacy. Disability associated with dyspnea was assessed using the Medical Research Council (MRC) dyspnea scale. Results: The data showed that, according to dyspnea status and diagnosis, medication adherence varied. In this sample, medication adherence in elderly patients was not associated with health literacy. Instead, medication adherence was associated with the patient’s disability and the course of the disease. Discussion and conclusions: Improving health literacy may enhance the medication adherence of older people with chronic disease. The development, practice and evaluation of health literacy interventions for older people with chronic conditions are important to increase medication adherence and potentially improve patient outcomes. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 2020; 34(2):90-96] Key words: Health literacy, medication adherence, older patients, chronic disease, dyspne

Assessment of atrial electromechanical delay and left atrial mechanical functions in chronic kidney disease

Article HistoryReceived Accepted 01 / 05 / 201618 / 05 / 2016The risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) development was revealed to be increased in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) Elongation of the time of atrial electromechanical delay (AEMD) is a famous typical of the atrium. AEMD is a risk factor for AF development and it could be associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The aim of our study is to examine mechanical functions of the left atrium (LA) and AEMD times in ESRD. A total of 86 participant, 46 with ESRD and 40 as the control group, were included in the study. The demographical and laboratory information were documented. Echocardiographic dimensions were achieved in all patients. Left atrial mechanical functions and AEMD durations were calculated. Demographic and laboratory characteristics of the groups were similar except the mean diastolic blood pressure, hemoglobin, creatinine, glucose, uric acid, calcium and potassium levels. The echocardiographic assessment exposed that the ventricular septal thickness (12.7±1.5 vs. 10.4±1.5, p<0.001), posterior wall thickness (12.6±1.6 vs. 10.1±1.9, p<0.001), LA dimension (40.9±5.3 vs.34.6±2.6, p<0.001) and diastolic parameters decreased in the ESRD group when compared to the control group; also, LA volumes, mechanical functions, inter atrial EMD (33.2±9.1 vs. 22.7±7.7, p<0.001), intraright-EMD (18.5±7.7 vs. 13.2±6.4, p=0.001) and intra-left-EMD (18.5±7.7 vs. 13.7±5.7, p=0.002) were also different between groups. (p<0.005) The correlation analysis showed that serum ferritin levels were correlated with AEMD. We found deteriorated LA functions and elongation in the times of AEMD in the ESRD group compared with the control group. Additionally, we found positive correlation between ferritin levels and AEMD. This result show that AEMD might be used to predict the risk of development of AF in patients with ESRD. © 2016 OMUArticle HistoryReceived Accepted 01 / 05 / 201618 / 05 / 2016The risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) development was revealed to be increased in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) Elongation of the time of atrial electromechanical delay (AEMD) is a famous typical of the atrium. AEMD is a risk factor for AF development and it could be associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The aim of our study is to examine mechanical functions of the left atrium (LA) and AEMD times in ESRD. A total of 86 participant, 46 with ESRD and 40 as the control group, were included in the study. The demographical and laboratory information were documented. Echocardiographic dimensions were achieved in all patients. Left atrial mechanical functions and AEMD durations were calculated. Demographic and laboratory characteristics of the groups were similar except the mean diastolic blood pressure, hemoglobin, creatinine, glucose, uric acid, calcium and potassium levels. The echocardiographic assessment exposed that the ventricular septal thickness (12.7±1.5 vs. 10.4±1.5, p<0.001), posterior wall thickness (12.6±1.6 vs. 10.1±1.9, p<0.001), LA dimension (40.9±5.3 vs.34.6±2.6, p<0.001) and diastolic parameters decreased in the ESRD group when compared to the control group; also, LA volumes, mechanical functions, inter atrial EMD (33.2±9.1 vs. 22.7±7.7, p<0.001), intraright-EMD (18.5±7.7 vs. 13.2±6.4, p=0.001) and intra-left-EMD (18.5±7.7 vs. 13.7±5.7, p=0.002) were also different between groups. (p<0.005) The correlation analysis showed that serum ferritin levels were correlated with AEMD. We found deteriorated LA functions and elongation in the times of AEMD in the ESRD group compared with the control group. Additionally, we found positive correlation between ferritin levels and AEMD. This result show that AEMD might be used to predict the risk of development of AF in patients with ESRD. © 2016 OM

Expression of antimicrobial peptides in recurrent adenotonsillitis

Kilic, Murat/0000-0002-1377-2021; aydin, sedat/0000-0003-4939-5026; demir, mehmet/0000-0002-0609-6782WOS: 000393197500008Background: Recurrent acute tonsillitis is one of the most frequent otorhinolaryngology clinic referrals, yet its pathogenesis remains poorly understood. Antimicrobial cationic peptides are components of the innate system. They are generally small, highly positively charged peptides with broad spectrum antimicrobial activity which function as the body's "natural antibiotics". Our aim is to investigate the role of antimicrobial cationic peptides in the susceptibility of patients to recurrent acute tonsillitis. Materials and methods: The study is done with 100 children who had a history of recurrent adenotonsillitis as subject group and 100 children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy as control group. Tonsillar and adenoid tissues are dissected into parts as deep and surface epithelium and investigated semiquantitatively with immunohistochemistry. Human beta defensin (hBD) 1-3 and cathelecidin (LL-37) levels are compared with microscopically. Results: Immunohistochemistry revealed a strong expression of hBD-1, hBD-2 and hBD-3 in tonsillar tissue. Quantification of hBD-1, hBD-2 and hBD-3 expressions are shown more in tonsillar tissue than in adenoids. LL-37 is one of the antimicrobial peptides found in human tonsillar tissue and adenoids, that participates in the innate immune system of these tissues. Statistically, hBD-1, hBD-3 and LL-37 expressions were different in recurrent tonsillitis tissue than control (p < 0.05). Moreover hBD-2 expression was different in adenoid tissue than control (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Antimicrobial peptides have key role in adenotonsillar infections and this defense mechanism increases susceptibility to recurrent infections in upper respiratory tract

A Two-Dimensional Single-Field FDTD Formulation for Oblique Incident Electromagnetic Simulations

Abstract A set of general purpose two-dimensional single-field finite-difference time-domain updating equations for solving oblique incidence electromagnetic problems is derived. The traditional FDTD updating equations are based on Maxwell&apos;s curl equations whereas the single-field FDTD updating equations are based on the vector wave equation. Performance analyses of the single-field formulation in terms of CPU time and memory requirement are presented along with numerical validation. It was observed that the single-field method is more efficient than the traditional FDTD formulation in terms of speed and memory requirements for oblique incident problems