Investigating The Relationship Between Adverse Events And Infrastructure Development In An Active War Theater Using Soft Computing Techniques

The military recently recognized the importance of taking sociocultural factors into consideration. Therefore, Human Social Culture Behavior (HSCB) modeling has been getting much attention in current and future operational requirements to successfully understand the effects of social and cultural factors on human behavior. There are different kinds of modeling approaches to the data that are being used in this field and so far none of them has been widely accepted. HSCB modeling needs the capability to represent complex, ill-defined, and imprecise concepts, and soft computing modeling can deal with these concepts. There is currently no study on the use of any computational methodology for representing the relationship between adverse events and infrastructure development investments in an active war theater. This study investigates the relationship between adverse events and infrastructure development projects in an active war theater using soft computing techniques including fuzzy inference systems (FIS), artificial neural networks (ANNs), and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference systems (ANFIS) that directly benefits from their accuracy in prediction applications. Fourteen developmental and economic improvement project types were selected based on allocated budget values and a number of projects at different time periods, urban and rural population density, and total adverse event numbers at previous month selected as independent variables. A total of four outputs reflecting the adverse events in terms of the number of people killed, wounded, hijacked, and total number of adverse events has been estimated. For each model, the data was grouped for training and testing as follows: years between 2004 and 2009 (for training purpose) and year 2010 (for testing). Ninety-six different models were developed and investigated for Afghanistan iv and the country was divided into seven regions for analysis purposes. Performance of each model was investigated and compared to all other models with the calculated mean absolute error (MAE) values and the prediction accuracy within ±1 error range (difference between actual and predicted value). Furthermore, sensitivity analysis was performed to determine the effects of input values on dependent variables and to rank the top ten input parameters in order of importance. According to the the results obtained, it was concluded that the ANNs, FIS, and ANFIS are useful modeling techniques for predicting the number of adverse events based on historical development or economic projects’ data. When the model accuracy was calculated based on the MAE for each of the models, the ANN had better predictive accuracy than FIS and ANFIS models in general as demonstrated by experimental results. The percentages of prediction accuracy with values found within ±1 error range around 90%. The sensitivity analysis results show that the importance of economic development projects varies based on the regions, population density, and occurrence of adverse events in Afghanistan. For the purpose of allocating resources and development of regions, the results can be summarized by examining the relationship between adverse events and infrastructure development in an active war theater; emphasis was on predicting the occurrence of events and assessing the potential impact of regional infrastructure development efforts on reducing number of such events

The structure of mammalian telomeres associated with the shelterin subcomplexes

Telomeres are the specialized DNA-protein complexes at eukaryotic chromosome ends. They are essential to protect linear chromosome ends from nucleolytic attack and chromosomal end-to-end fusions, which may lead to chromosomal abnormalities. Genomic instability, a hallmark for both cancer and aging, is majorly induced by chromosomal abnormalities. Therefore, telomere length and structure are equally important for the maintenance of genomic stability. Mammalian telomeres associate with a six-subunit, telomere-specific shelterin complex, as well as shelterin subcomplexes. In this study, I will visualize the structure of mammalian telomeres associated with the shelterin subcomplexes using electron microscopy (EM). In order to achieve this goal, I will examine the association of model telomeres with single-stranded and double-stranded telomeric DNA repeat binding proteins separately. This study will be extremely valuable for understanding the mechanistic details of the regulation of mammalian telomere structure and function by the shelterin complex subunits and subcomplexes

A cross-sectional study of the relationships between work-related affective feelings expressed by workeres in Turkey

Understanding employees' feelings at work plays a significant role in developing practical and effective organizational and human resource management policies and practices. Furthermore, work-related emotions may have a considerable effect on workers’ health and wellbeing and affect work effectiveness and work performance. The objectives of the current study were to investigate the relationships among four work-related (WOR) affective feelings (WORAF) and to validate the WORAF questionnaire in a Turkish sample. A survey was performed including four constructs: (1) WOR feelings of happiness, (2) WOR feelings of anxiety, (3) WOR feelings of anger, and (4) WOR feelings of dejection. A total of 322 workers from various companies in Turkey completed a paper-based survey. A research model was developed, and its main components were estimated with partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The results revealed that dejection and anger at work play a critical role in experienced anxiety in occupational settings. Similarly, dejection, anger, and anxiety at work play a crucial role in perceived happiness at work

A rare benign disorder mimicking metastasis on radiographic examination: a case report of osteopoikilosis

Osteopoikilosis (OPK) is a rare, autosomal dominant bone disorder, characterized by multiple, discrete round or ovoid radio densities scattered throughout the axial and appendicular skeleton. OPK is usually asymptomatic but rarely there may be slight articular pain and joint effusions. OPK is generally diagnosed incidentally on radiographic examinations and may mimic different bone pathologies, including bone metastases. Radionuclide bone scan has a critical role in distinguishing OPK from osteoblastic bone metastases. In this case report, we present a young man with right hip pain due to OPK, whose plain radiogram and computerized tomography findings thought cancer metastasis

Physiotherapy versus placebo or no intervention in Parkinson's disease

Background: Despite medical therapies and surgical interventions for Parkinson's disease (PD), patients develop progressive disability. Physiotherapy aims to maximise functional ability and minimise secondary complications through movement rehabilitation within a context of education and support for the whole person. The overall aim is to optimise independence, safety, and well-being, thereby enhancing quality of life.  Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of physiotherapy intervention compared with no intervention in patients with PD.  Search methods: We identified relevant trials by conducting electronic searches of numerous literature databases (e.g. MEDLINE, EMBASE) and trial registers, and by handsearching major journals, abstract books, conference proceedings, and reference lists of retrieved publications. The literature search included trials published up to the end of January 2012.  Selection criteria: Randomised controlled trials of physiotherapy intervention versus no physiotherapy intervention in patients with PD.  Data collection and analysis: Two review authors independently extracted data from each article. We used standard meta-analysis methods to assess the effectiveness of physiotherapy intervention compared with no physiotherapy intervention. Trials were classified into the following intervention comparisons: general physiotherapy, exercise, treadmill training, cueing, dance, and martial arts. We used tests for heterogeneity to assess for differences in treatment effect across these different physiotherapy interventions.  Main results: We identified 39 trials with 1827 participants. We considered the trials to be at a mixed risk of bias as the result of unreported allocation concealment and probable detection bias. Compared with no intervention, physiotherapy significantly improved the gait outcomes of speed (mean difference 0.04 m/s, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.02 to 0.06, P = 0.0002); two- or six-minute walk test (13.37 m, 95% CI 0.55 to 26.20, P = 0.04) and Freezing of Gait questionnaire (-1.41, 95% CI -2.63 to -0.19, P = 0.02); functional mobility and balance outcomes of Timed Up & Go test (-0.63 s, 95% CI -1.05 to -0.21, P = 0.003), Functional Reach Test (2.16 cm, 95% CI 0.89 to 3.43, P = 0.0008), and Berg Balance Scale (3.71 points, 95% CI 2.30 to 5.11, P < 0.00001); and clinician-rated disability using the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) (total -6.15 points, 95% CI-8.57 to -3.73, P < 0.00001; activities of daily living: -1.36, 95% CI -2.41 to -0.30, P = 0.01; and motor: -5.01, 95% CI -6.30 to -3.72, P < 0.00001). No difference between arms was noted in falls (Falls Efficacy Scale: -1.91 points, 95% CI -4.76 to 0.94, P = 0.19) or patient-rated quality of life (PDQ-39 Summary Index: -0.38 points, 95% CI -2.58 to 1.81, P = 0.73). One study reported that adverse events were rare; no other studies reported data on this outcome. Indirect comparisons of the different physiotherapy interventions revealed no evidence that the treatment effect differed across physiotherapy interventions for any of the outcomes assessed.  Authors' conclusions: Benefit for physiotherapy was found in most outcomes over the short term (i.e. < 3 months) but was significant only for speed, two- or six-minute walk test, Freezing of Gait questionnaire, Timed Up & Go, Functional Reach Test, Berg Balance Scale, and clinician-rated UPDRS. Most of the observed differences between treatments were small. However, for some outcomes (e.g. speed, Berg Balance Scale, UPDRS), the differences observed were at, or approaching, what are considered minimal clinically important changes. These benefits should be interpreted with caution because the quality of most of the included trials was not high. Variation in measurements of outcome between studies meant that our analyses include a small proportion of the participants recruited.  This review illustrates that a wide range of approaches are employed by physiotherapists to treat patients with PD. However, no evidence of differences in treatment effect was noted between the different types of physiotherapy interventions being used, although this was based on indirect comparisons. A consensus menu of 'best practice' physiotherapy is needed, as are large, well-designed randomised controlled trials undertaken to demonstrate the longer-term efficacy and cost-effectiveness of 'best practice' physiotherapy in PD

The Association of Skinfold Anthropometric Measures, Body Composition and Disease Severity in Obese and Non-obese Fibromyalgia Patients: A Cross-sectional Study

WOS: 000429930000008PubMed ID: 29900988Objectives: This study aims to determine the effects of obesity and obesity related anthropometric and body composition determiners on the severity of fibromyalgia syndrome (FS) and to compare obese, overweight and normoweight FS patients according to general health and psychological status. Patients and methods: The study included 42 obese (mean age 48.8 +/- 11.6; range 24 to 65 years), 27 overweight (mean age 47.3 +/- 3.4; range 24 to 61 years) and 32 normoweight (mean age 47.1 +/- 7.8 years; range 31 to 60 years) female FS patients. Widespread pain scores and symptom severity scores were noted. Pain pressure thresholds of tender points and control points were measured and total myalgic score (TMS) was calculated. The anthropometric assessments and skinfold measurements of all participants were recorded. Quality of life was evaluated by Health Assessment Questionnaire while psychological status was evaluated using Beck Depression Inventory. Results: Control points, TMS values and hand grip strength values of obese FS patients were significantly lower, while disease duration, symptom severity, widespread pain scores, visual analog scale and Health Assessment Questionnaire scores were significantly higher than normoweight and overweight FS patients. Fat free mass, fat mass, body fat percentage and waist/hip ratio values were significantly higher in obese FS patients than overweight and normoweight FS patients (p<0.001 for all values). Stepwise linear regression analysis showed that increased body mass index, decreased fat free mass (R2=0.11) and increased disease duration (R2=0.13) were associated with lower TMS. Conclusion: We found that obesity had significant negative effects on pain, disease severity and quality of life in patients with FS

A survey of hand anthropometry and biomechanical measurements of dentistry students in Turkey

The objectives of this study were 1) to determine various hand dimensions and biomechanics measurements for Turkish dentistry students, 2) to evaluate the differences between males and females and between the right and left hand, and 3) to compare these data with similar data for other populations (Thai, Indian, Malaysian, British, Jordanian, Nigerian, Mexican, Bangladesh, and Vietnamese). The present study was undertaken to generate hand anthropometric and biomechanics data of 92 male and 73 female students studying at dentistry faculty. Sixty-seven anthropometric and 26 biomechanics measurements were taken in both hands. The means, standard deviations, and percentile values were tabulated and compared with other populations. The results suggest that the Turkish female fingers are thinner than those of other females except Indians, and that the Turkish male fingers are wider than those of the other males. Furthermore, the results also suggest that the Turkish female strength in handgripping is greater than that of other females except British females, and the Turkish male handgrip strength is greater than that of other males except Americans. This study provides insights about Turkish hand dimensions and biomechanics; it can be a basis for future studies and the design of dental tools meant for the Turkish market. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc