An automotive vehicle dynamics prototyping platform based on a remote control model car

The use of a modified remote control (RC) model car as a vehicle dynamics testing and development platform is detailed. Vehicle dynamics testing is an important aspect of automotive engineering and it plays a key role during the design and tuning of active safety control systems. Considering the fact that such tests are conducted at great expense, scaled model cars can potentially be used to help with the process to reduce the costs. With this view, we instrument and develop a standard electric RC model car into a vehicle dynamics testing platform. We then implement 2 representative active safety control applications based on this platform, namely an antilock brake system using open-loop pulse brake control and a roll-over prevention system utilizing lateral acceleration feedback. Both applications are presented with sensor measurements and the effectiveness of the suggested control algorithms are demonstrated. © TÜBİTAK

Age-related changes of nasal cavity and conchae volumes and volume fractions in children: a stereological study

Background: The anatomy of the human nasal cavity (NC) is complex and its structures are closely related to the functions of the NC. Studies which assessing the mean volumes of NC and conchae are very infrequent. The purpose of current study is to investigate development of NC and conchae according to age and sex by using stereological method. Materials and methods: This retrospective volumetric study was carried out on 342 individuals (166 females and 176 males) between 0 and 18 years old with no pathological conditions or medical procedures that affected the skeletal morphology of the NC. Volumetric estimations were determined on computed tomography (CT) images using point-counting approach of stereological methods. Results: NC, inferior nasal conchae (INC) and middle nasal conchae (MNC) volume measurements that obtained using point-counting method were increased with age in both sexes until 15 years old. Regardless of gender; no significant difference was determined between the left and right values for NC, conchae volumes and choanae measurements. Generally, significant differences were determined in NC and INC volumes according to gender after they reached maximum growth period. According to age the volume ratios of INC to NC and MNC to NC were ranged from 18% to 32% and 9% to15%, respectively. Conclusions: The current study demonstrated that the point-counting method is effective in determining volume estimation of NC and is well suited for CT studies. Our results could provide volumetric indexes for the NC and conchae, which could help the physician for both patient selections for surgery, and for the assessment of any surgical technique used to treatment of nasal obstruction. (

Odnos između težine azotemije i plinova u krvi u 101 teleta s neonatalnom dijarejom

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the severity of azotemia and blood gas parameters in 101 neonatal calves with diarrhea. The calves were divided into 3 groups on the basis of their creatinine levels. The 3 groups were defined as: the non-azotemia group (5.01 mg/dL). Azotemia was not detected in 35 of the 101 calves with diarrhea, mild-moderate azotemia was identified in 34, and severe azotemia in 32. Blood pH was significantly lower in the severe azotemia group compared to the non-azotemia and mild-moderate azotemia groups, while K and lactate levels were significantly higher. Although the HCO3 - and BE values of the severe azotemia group were lower than the other groups, a statistical difference was only found with the mild-moderate azotemia group. Ionized calcium (iCa+2) level was also lower in the severe azotemia group compared to the other groups, but the difference was only significant with the non-azotemia group. In conclusion, it was observed that azotemia is a common occurrence in neonatal calves with diarrhea, and there is a significant relationship between the severity of azotemia and blood gases. Therefore, it may be concluded that it would be beneficial to monitor renal functions during the treatment of calves with neonatal diarrhea.Cilj je ovog istraživanja bio procijeniti odnos između težine azotemije i pokazatelja plinova u krvi u 101 teleta s dijarejom. Telad je na temelju razine kreatinina podijeljena u tri skupine: skupina bez azotemije (5,01 mg/dL). Azotemija nije otkrivena u 35 od 101 teleta s dijarejom, blaga – umjerena azotemija pronađena je u 34 teleta, a teška azotemija u 32 teleta. Vrijednost pH krvi bila je znakovito niža , a razina kalija i laktata znakovito viša, u skupini s teškom azotemijom u usporedbi s ostalim dvjema skupinama. Iako su vrijednosti HCO3 - i BE u skupini teladi s teškom azotemijom bile niže nego u drugim skupinama, statistički znakovita je razlika pronađena samo u odnosu na skupinu s blago-umjerenom azotemijom. Razina ioniziranog kalcija (iCa+2) također je bila niža u skupini s teškom azotemijom u usporedbi s drugim skupinama, ali je razlika bila znakovita samo u odnosu na skupinu bez azotemije. Rezultati istraživanja pokazuju da se azotemija često pojavljuje u neonatalne teladi s dijarejom i da postoji znakovita povezanost između težine azotemije i plinova u krvi. Može se stoga zaključiti da bi praćenje bubrežne funkcije bilo korisno u liječenju teladi s neonatalnom dijarejom

Emergent local initiative and the City: The case of neighbourhood associations of the better-off classes in post-1990 Urban Turkey

This article investigates the voluntary local organisations of the better-off classes in the Turkish urban context. Based on empirical research conducted with four neighbourhood associations (NAs), information is provided regarding their process of establishment, leadership, autonomy, goals and projects, resources and obstacles, which points to the significance of context. The research demonstrates that Turkish NAs differ from those in the West in terms of their commitment to ideological as much as pragmatic issues. In their response to the 'Islamist' versus 'secularist' polarisation in society, they seek to create their own localities as the places of secular and cosmopolitan people; and in their response to the increasingly unregulated and poorly serviced city, they struggle to create orderly localities protected from unlawful rent-seeking practices and equipped with adequate amenities. The NAs may be regarded as civic initiatives that empower the locality. Yet, by doing so, they may cause uneven development in urban space

Estimation of spleen volume and surface area of the newborns’ cadaveric spleen using stereological methods

Background: The purpose of this study was to compare different techniques for the estimation of spleen volume and surface area using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images, ultrasonography (USG) images and cadaveric specimen, and to evaluate errors associated with volume estimation techniques based onfluid displacement.Materials and methods: Five new born cadavers, aged 39.7 ± 1.5 weeks, weighted 2.220 ± 1.056 g, were included in the present study. Three different methods were used to assess the spleen volume. The vertical section technique was applied using cycloid test probes for estimation of spleen surface area in MRI.Results: The mean ± standard deviation of spleen volumes by fluid displacement was 4.82 ± 3.85 cm3. Volumes determined by the Cavalieri’s principle using physical section and point-counting techniques were 4.45 ± 3.47 cm3 and 4.65 ± 3.75 cm3, respectively; volumes measured by USG and cadaver using ellipsoid formula were 4.70 ± 3.02 cm3 and 5.98 ± 4.58 cm3, respectively. No significant differences were found among all methods (p > 0.05). The spleen surface area was calculated as a 32.3 ± 20.6 cm2 by physical sections using cadaver and also it was determined on axial, sagittal and coronal MR planes as 24.9 ± 15.2 cm2, 18.5 ± 5.92 cm2 and 24.3 ± 12.7 cm2, respectively.Conclusions: As a result, MR images allow an easy, reliable and reproducible volume and surface area estimation of normal and abnormal spleen using Cavalieri’sprinciple. We consider that our study may serve as a reference for similar studies to be conducted in future

Fundamental structure of Fresnel diffraction: Longitudinal uniformity with respect to fractional Fourier order

Fresnel integrals corresponding to different distances can be interpreted as scaled fractional Fourier transformations observed on spherical reference surfaces. Transverse samples can be taken on these surfaces with separation that increases with propagation distance. Here, we are concerned with the separation of the spherical reference surfaces along the longitudinal direction. We show that these surfaces should be equally spaced with respect to the fractional Fourier transform order, rather than being equally spaced with respect to the distance of propagation along the optical axis. The spacing should be of the order of the reciprocal of the space-bandwidth product of the signals. The space-dependent longitudinal and transverse spacings define a grid that reflects the structure of Fresnel diffraction. © 2011 Optical Society of America

Enhancing Employees’ Duty Orientation and Moral Potency: Dual Mechanisms Linking Ethical Psychological Climate to Ethically‐Focused Proactive Behaviors

Based on social cognitive theory (SCT), we develop and test a model that links ethical psychological climate to ethically‐focused proactive behavior (i.e., ethical voice and ethical taking charge) via two distinct mechanisms (i.e., duty orientation and moral potency). Results from multi‐wave field studies conducted in the United States, Turkey, France, Vietnam, and India demonstrate that an ethical psychological climate indirectly influences employees’ ethical voice and ethical taking charge behaviors through the dual mechanisms of duty orientation and moral potency. Additionally, we find that individuals’ moral attentiveness strengthened these mediating processes. Together, these findings suggest that ethical psychological climate is an important antecedent of ethically‐focused proactive behavior by stimulating individuals’ sense of duty and enhancing their moral potency, particularly when employees are already highly attuned to moral issues

Spinal cord compression secondary to extramedullary hematopoiesis in thalassemia intermedia

Extramedullary hematopoiesis associated with thalassemia causing spinal cord compression is an extremely rare event in the course of the disease. Documentation with an imaging technique, such as MRI, is mandatory. A patient with thalassemia intermedia, who developed paraparesis in spite of transfusion, underwent surgical decompression. Rapid neurological improvement was observed postoperatively and this neurological condition was protected with adequate hemoglobin level. Management of these patients remains controversial. Various modes of therapy such as surgical decompression, radiotherapy, and transfusion are discussed and the related literature is reviewed

Morphological evaluation and clinical significance of the supracondylar process and supratrochlear foramen: an anatomic and radiological study

Background: In our literature review, we did not encounter any study examining the supracondylar process (SP) and the supratrochlear foramen (STF) with a three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction method. The present study aimed to evaluate SP and STF morphologically by employing the 3D reconstruction method and emphasize their clinical significance. Materials and methods: The research was carried out on dried human humeri of unknown sex and without pathological alterations. A total of 81 humeri (42 right, 39 left) were obtained from the Departments of Anatomy of Gazi University Faculty of Medicine and Lokman Hekim University Faculty of Medicine. The morphometric measurements of SP and STF were made with a digital vernier caliper. The computed tomography (CT) images acquired for radiological evaluation were analyzed with the 3D reconstruction method. Results: The narrower distal medullary canal widths of humeri with STF were found to be statistically significant. No statistically significant difference was found between the transverse diameters (TD), vertical diameters (VD), the distance of the medial edge to the medial epicondyle (ME), and the distance of the lateral edge to the lateral epicondyle (LE) of the supratrochlear foramen of the right and left humeri. Conclusions: The supracondylar process is often evaluated by mistake as a pathological condition of the bone, not as a normal anatomical variation. Knowing different shapes and dimensions, e.g., the TD and VD distance in which STF emerges, can assist in avoiding the misinterpretation of radiographs

PKU dietary handbook to accompany PKU guidelines

Background: Phenylketonuria (PKU) is an autosomal recessive inborn error of phenylalanine metabolism caused by deficiency in the enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase that converts phenylalanine into tyrosine. Main body: In 2017 the first European PKU Guidelines were published. These guidelines contained evidence based and/or expert opinion recommendations regarding diagnosis, treatment and care for patients with PKU of all ages. This manuscript is a supplement containing the practical application of the dietary treatment. Conclusion: This handbook can support dietitians, nutritionists and physicians in starting, adjusting and maintaining dietary treatment