Classification Of Clinically Different Subtypes Of Multiple Sclerosis

Tez (Yüksek Lisans) -- İstanbul Teknik Üniversitesi, Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü, 2011Thesis (M.Sc.) -- İstanbul Technical University, Institute of Science and Technology, 2011Bu çalışma TAU, GFAP, NFL ve MOG proteinlerini ve klinik verileri kullanarak Multipl Skleroz(MS)’un farklı klinik alttiplerinin sınıflandırılmasına odaklanmaktadır. Bu çalışma için kullanılan protein verileri, hastaların Beyin Omurilik Sıvısı (BOS) örneklerinden elde edilmiştir. Farklı sınıflandırma yöntemleri kullanılarak, MS’in farklı klinik alttpleri, protein verileri ve klinik verilere göre sınıflandırılmışlardır. Bu çalışma, Klinik İzole Sendrom(CIS) dan MS e geçişi bu verileri kullanarak tahmin eden ilk çalışmadır. CIS ve Kontrol grubu arasındaki sınıflandırma 87.31%±12.02 (AUC: 0.93±0.09) doğrulukla, MS ve CIS arasındaki sınıflandırma 76.51% ±11.15 (AUC: 0.83 ±0.12) doğrulukla, RRMS ve PPMS arasındaki sınıflandırma 95.77% ±6.63 (AUC: 0.97±0.08) doğrulukla, MS ve Kontrol grubu arasındaki sınıflandırma 92.64% ±7.15 (AUC: 0.97±0.06) doğrulukla, CIS grubundan RRMS grubuna geçiş 86.45% ±12.6 (AUC: 0.89±0.19) doğrulukla tahmin edilmiştir. Bu çalışma, MS’in klinik alttiplerinin tanısı ve prognozunu ve farklı alttipler arası geçişi tahmin etmek için protein ve klinik verileri ve bilgisayar destekli sınıflandırma yöntemlerini kullanan ilk çalışmadır.This study focuses on the classification of different clinical subtypes of MS using TAU,GFAP,NFL and MOG proteins and clinical data. Protein data used in this study are obtained by lumbar puncture. Using different classification methods, different clinical subtypes of multiple sclerosis were classified according to their protein and clinical data patterns. To the best of our knowledge, there are no other studies in the literature that uses these patterns to predict the transition from Clinically Isolated Syndrome (CIS) to Multiple Sclerosis. MS patients, CIS patients, and control group were classified with 71.43%± 10.95 accuracy (AUC: 0.82± 0.12), CIS and control group were classified with accuracy: 87.31%±12.02 (AUC: 0.93±0.09), MS and CIS were clasified with 76.51% ±11.15 (AUC: 0.83 ±0.12) accuracy, RRMS and PPMS were classified with 95.77% ±6.63 accuracy (AUC: 0.97±0.08), MS and control group were classified with 92.64% ±7.15 (AUC: 0.97±0.06) accuracy. Transition from CIS to RRMS was predicted with 86.45% ±12.6 (AUC: 0.89±0.19) accuracy. This is a novel study using computer aided classification methods with protein and clinical data for diagnostic and prognostic purposes in predicting clinical subtypes of MS and predicting transition between subtypes.Yüksek LisansM.Sc

The Impact of STEM Attitude and Thinking Style on Computational Thinking Determined via Structural Equation Modeling

This study aimed to investigate the relationships among computational thinking (CT) skills, science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) attitude, and thinking styles with the help of structural equation modeling and to determine to what extent the variables of STEM attitude and thinking styles explained CT skills. The study, conducted with relational screening model, included 703 secondary school students. "STEM attitude scale," "thinking styles scale," and "computational thinking scale" were used as data collection tools. The data were analyzed by structural equation modeling. Based on the study results, it was concluded that the proposed model was valid and STEM attitude and thinking styles had a significant effect on CT skills. It was found that STEM attitude and thinking styles together explained 43% of CT skills

Neural Representations of Self-Motion During Natural Scenes in the Human Brain

Navigating through the environment is one of the important everyday tasks of the visual system. This task relies on processing of at least two visual cues: visual motion, and scene content. Our sense of motion heavily relies on understanding and separating visual cues resulting from object motion and self-motion. Processing and understanding of visual scenes is an equally abundant task we are exposed to in our everyday environment. Together, motion and scene processing allow us to fulfill navigation tasks such as way finding and spatial updating. In terms of neural processing, both, regions involved in motion processing, and regions involved in scene processing have been studied in great detail. However, how motion regions are influenced by scene content and how scene regions are involved in motion processing has barely been addressed. In order to understand how self-motion and scene processing interact in the human brain, I completed a series of studies as part of this thesis. First of all, using planar horizontal motion and visual scenes, the first study of this thesis investigates motion responses of scene regions. The next study investigates whether eye-centered or world-centered reference frames are used during visual motion processing in scene regions, using objective ‘real’ motion and retinal motion during pursuit eye movements and natural scene stimuli. The third study investigates the effect of natural scene content during objective and retinal motion processing in motion regions. The last study investigates how motion speed is represented in motion regions during objective and retinal motion. Since many visual areas are optimized for natural visual stimuli, the speed responses were tested on Fourier scrambles of natural scene images in order to provide natural scene statistics as visual input. I found evidence that scene processing regions parahippocampal place area (PPA) and occipital place area (OPA) are motion responsive while retrosplenial cortex (RSC) is not. In addition, PPA’s motion responses are modulated by scene content. With respect to reference frames, I found that PPA prefers a world-centered reference frame while viewing dynamic scenes. The results from motion regions (MT/V5+, V3A, V6 and cingulate sulcus visual area (CSv)) revealed that motion responses of all of them are enhanced during exposure to scenes compared to Fourier-scramble, whereas only V3A responded also to static scenes. The last study showed that all motion responsive regions tested (MT/V5, MST, V3A, V6 and CSv) are modulated by motion speed but only V3A has a distinctly stronger speed tuning for objective compared to retinal motion. These results reveal that using natural scene stimuli is important while investigating self-motion responses in human brain: many scene regions are modulated by motion and one of them (PPA) even differentiates object motion from retinal motion. Conversely, many motion regions are modulated by scene content and one of them (V3A) is even responsive to still scenes. Moreover, the objective motion preference of V3A is even stronger during higher speeds. These results question a strong separation of ‘where’ and ‘what’ pathways and show that scene region PPA and motion region V3A have similar objective motion and scene preferences

A rare case of cardiac alveolar echinococcosis without any complications for eight years

[Abstract Not Available

The effects of metformın, acetylsalıcylıc acıd and ıbuprofen on telomerase enzyme actıvıty: ınhıbıtory effect of ıbuprofen

Telomerase enzyme is necessary for the elongation of telomeres while telomerase being critical for aging and cancer. Metformin, ibuprofen, and acetylsalicylic acid used in this research are drugs that millions of people already use and that many are likely to use in future. In this study, the effects of these drugs on telomerase activity of Mus musculus swiss albino mice in liver tissue were investigated and the telomerase activity was measured with a PCR-ELISA based kit. In the study a possible connection between telomerase enzyme activity and activities of antioxidant enzymes was also investigated by determining the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase enzymes. The data obtained show that metformin slightly decreased telomerase enzyme activity in low dose application; however, this change was not statistically significant. In ibuprofen application, there was a significant inhibitory effect when high doses were used; whereas, there was a slight inhibitory effect at low doses. In acetylsalicylic acid application, a slight activator effect was detected; it was not statistically significant, though. Metformin was observed to increase catalase and SOD activities in general while low and high doses of acetyl salicylic acid showed different effects. In addition, ibuprofen caused a statistically significant increase in liver SOD values. It is important to note that this study demonstrated a significant inhibitory effect of ibuprofen on telomerase enzyme activity in animal models

Modelling Of Low Temperature Geothermal Systems Consisting Of Shallow And Deep Reservoirs

Tez (Yüksek Lisans) -- İstanbul Teknik Üniversitesi, Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü, 2004Thesis (M.Sc.) -- İstanbul Technical University, Institute of Science and Technology, 2004Bu çalışmada, sığ ve derin rezervuarlardan oluşan, düşük sıcaklıklı sıvının etken olduğu jeotermal sistemlerin üretim davranışı modellenmektedir. Modelde, üretim, tekrar - basma ve doğal beslenmenin jeotermal sistemin basınç veya su seviyesi üzerindeki etkileri gözönüne alınmaktadır. Modellemede yöntem olarak boyutsuz rezervuar modellemesi (lumped parameter modeling) yaklaşımı kullanılmaktadır. Jeotermal sistemi oluşturan derin ve sığ rezervuarlar ve akifer ayrı ayrı tanklar olarak temsil edilmektedir. İlk olarak 1 sığ rezervuar -1 derin rezervuar ve beslenme kaynağından oluşan jeotermal sistem için ve daha sonra 1 sığ rezervuar -1 derin rezervuar –1 akifer ve beslenme kaynağından oluşan jeotermal sistem için analitik çözümler elde edilmektedir. Rezervuar jeotermal sistemde üretim ve tekrar - basma yapılan bölgeyi, akifer ise rezervuarı besleyen bölgeyi temsil etmektedir. Modellerin sonuçları sabit debide üretim / tekrar - basma durumunda analitik ifadeler şeklinde verilmektedir. Elde edilen analitik çözümlerden yararlanılarak rezervuar ve akifer parametrelerinin sistemin basınç davranışı üzerindeki etkileri tartışılmaktadır. Bu modelleme çalışması sırasında kullanılan modeller, bölümümüzde halen doktora çalışmasını sürdüren H. Sarak’ın çalışması sıırasında geliştirilmiştir. Bu yüksek lisans çalışmasında, geliştirilen modellerin parametrik çalışması yapılarak, parametrelerin basınç davranışı üzerindeki etkileri incelenmektedir. Bütünlük açısından modellerin analitik çözümleri Ek A ve Ek B’de sunulmaktadır.In this project the production behavior of a low-temperature liquid-dominated geothermal system that consists of one shallow and one deeper reservoirs will be simulated. Models consider the effects of production and re-injection rates and natural recharge on pressure or water level behavior of a low-temperature, liquid-dominated geothermal system. As modeling method, lumped parameter modeling is applied. Geothermal system consists of an aquifer and two reservoirs, one shallow and one deeper, which are represented by different tanks. The analytical solutions are given for 1 shallow reservoir - 1 deep reservoir – recharge system and 1 shallow reservoir - 1 deep reservoir -1 aquifer – recharge system. The reservoirs simulate the production and re-injection parts of the geothermal system, and the aquifer simulates the recharge part of the system. The model results for constant production / re-injection flow rates are given in the form of analytical expressions. By the help of the analytical expressions, the effects of reservoir and aquifer parameters on reservoir production behavior are discussed. Models used in this study were derived during H.Sarak’s PhD research conducted at our department. In this study the models are analyzed parametrically and effects of parameters on pressure behavior are investigated. The analytical solutions of models are given at Appendix A and Appendix B.Yüksek LisansM.Sc

A research towards the level of corporate sustainability and diversity of managers: Research of BIST Bursa companies

Bu çalışmanın temel amacı; işletme yöneticilerinin kurumsal sürdürülebilirliğe yönelik farkındalıklarının tespit edilmesi ve kurumsal sürdürülebilirliğe yönelik algılarını ortaya koymaktır. Bu kapsamda kurumsal sürdürülebilirlik kavramının ne olduğunu ve yöneticiler açısından ne ifade ettiğini belirlemek ve yine yöneticilerin algıları çerçevesinde kurumsal sürdürülebilirlik uygulamalarının işletmelere sağladığı faydaları anlamaya çalışmak amacıyla yapılmıştır. Bu amaçla çalışmanın birinci bölümünde kurumsal sürdürülebilirlik olgusu ana hatlarıyla ortaya konulduktan sonra kurumsal sürdürülebilirliğin ölçülmesi konusundan kısaca bahsedilmiştir. İkinci bölümde ise kurumsal sürdürülebilirliğin işletmelere sağladığı faydalar incelenmiştir. Üçüncü bölümde ise yöneticilerin kurumsal sürdürülebilirliğe yönelik farkındalıklarını tespit etmek amacıyla BİST Bursa şirketleri özelinde bir alan araştırması yapılmıştır. Sonuç bölümünde ise söz konusu ilişkiye dair tasarlanan ve yürütülen araştırmanın bulguları yer almaktadır.The main objective of this study is to determine the awareness of business managers towards corporate sustainability and to reveal their perceptions towards corporate sustainability. In this context, it is aimed to determine what the concept of corporate sustainability is and what it means for managers, and also to try to understand the benefits of corporate sustainability practices to businesses within the framework of managers perceptions. To this end, the first part of the study outlines the phenomenon of corporate sustainability and briefly discusses the issue of measuring corporate sustainability. In the second section, the benefits of corporate sustainability to businesses are examined. In the third section, a field survey was conducted by BIST Bursa companies in order to determine the managers awareness of corporate sustainability. Conclusion in the chapter, the findings of the research designed and conducted on the relationship in question are included

Skeletal, Dental and Soft-Tissue Changes Induced by the Jasper Jumper Appliance in Late Adolescence

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the skeletal, dental, and soft-tissue changes in lateadolescent patients treated with Jasper Jumpers applied with sectional arches. The study sample consisted of 30 subjects (15 treated, 15 untreated) with skeletal and dental Class II malocclusion. Our study was carried out on 75 lateral cephalometric films. Among these radiograms, 15 were taken before the leveling stage in the treatment group. Half of the remaining 60 were taken before placement and after removal of the Jasper Jumper appliance in the treatment group and the other half at the beginning and six months after in the control group. The patient selection criteria were Class II malocclusion caused by retrognathic mandible, normal or low-angle growth pattern, and postpeak growth period. The statistical assessment of the data suggests that the sagittal growth potential of the maxilla was inhibited. There were no significant changes in the vertical skeletal parameters. The mandibular incisors were protruded and intruded, whereas the maxillary incisors were retruded and extruded. The upper molars tipped distally as the lower molars tipped mesially. Because of these changes, the occlusal plane rotated in the clockwise direction. Overbite and overjet were reduced, and the soft-tissue profile improved significantly. The results revealed that, in late-adolescent patients, the Jasper Jumper corrected Class II discrepancies mostly through dentoalveolar changes. It is suggested that this treatment method could be an alternative to orthognathic surgery in borderline Class II cases. (Angle Orthod 2005;75:426-436.