Evaluation of error bound for a DT sliding mode control with disturbance observer

In this paper an estimate of the upper bound of control error for discrete-time implementation of a Sliding Mode Control (DTSMC) combined with disturbance observer is investigated. Having in mind application to PZT high bandwidth actuators and since high accuracy is required the special attention is paid to avoid chattering. Selected structure of proposed SMC controller is proven to offer chattering-free motion. The proposed structure also avoids deadbeat poles that are the cause of large control action which is not desirable in practical applications. The proposed scheme is shown to allow a maximum error bound of O(T) for the system with disturbance. The main disturbances are represented by hysteresis and the time variation of the piezo stack parameters. The evaluation of the upper bound of error in such a system is shown and experimentally verified. Closed-loop experiments are presented using the proposed method to verify the theoretical results

SIMULATION-BASED ANALYSIS OF 3D FLOW INSIDE A MICROPUMP WITH PASSIVE VALVES

It is expected that chemical, biological and environmental applications of microdevices will increase with new developments in micromachining techniques. In this work, a micropump design that utilizes passive valves and an actuated diaphragm is presented. The flow rate is controlled by the deflection and the frequency of the diaphragm’s displacement. Passive valves are used for directing the flow. Poiseuille flow analogy is used to generate the equivalent pressure drop and flow rate via modifying the viscosity in the valve-channel in order to replace the variation of the channel width due to valve movement. Overall flow in the micropump is governed by three-dimensional time-dependent Navier Stokes equations. Deformation of the domain due to moving boundaries that coincide with the diaphragm motion is handled with the arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian method. Flow rate, hydraulic power and the efficiency of the micropump are obtained with respect to driving frequency and displacement of the diaphragm

Superior cluneal nerve entrapment neuropathy due to lower crossed syndrome: A case with low back pain [Alt çapraz sendroma bağlı superior kluneal sinir tuzaklanma nöropatisi: Bel ağrılı bir olgu sunumu]

The superior cluneal nerve (SCN) is a sensory nerve known to be originated from the dorsal rami of the lower thoracic and lumbar nerve roots. One of the overlooked causes of low back pain (LBP) is the SCN Entrapment Neuropathy (SCNEN). SCNEN may also be associated with SCN stretching due to lumbar movement and the poor body posture through an increase in the paravertebral muscle tonus. A 59-year-old female patient presented with chronic LBP localized on the right iliac crest and radiating to the right buttock, groin, and leg. She had increased lumbar lordosis and anterior pelvic tilt. She had a tender point over the right iliac crest, and the pain was radiating to the buttock and posterolateral thigh (Tinel sign +). She was diagnosed with lower crossed syndrome and SCNEN, and a therapeutic nerve block was performed. Clinicians should consider SCNEN as a possible diagnosis of LBP

Anatomy and clinical importance of the extracranial clivus and surrounding structures

The aim of this study was to reveal the clinical importance of measurements taken from the pharyngeal tubercle (PT) to various anatomical structures around the extracranial clivus. Twenty-six adult dry Anatolian skulls were examined. The extracranial clivus and PT were used as landmarks from which various distances were measured using a digital caliper accurate to 0.01 mm. The following mean distances from the PT were observed; foramen lacerum (FL) (L: 17.15 mm, R: 17.4 mm); medial external margin of the carotid canal (CC) (L: 26.7 mm, R: 27.5 mm); anterior tip of occipital condyle (OC) (L: 16.4 mm, R: 16.3 mm); anterior margin of foramen magnum (FM) (10.8 mm); foramen ovale (FO) (L: 25.9 mm, R: 29.1); medial margin of the jugular fossa (JF) (L: 25.4 mm, R: 25.7 mm); medial external margin of the hypoglossal canal (HC) (L: 20.0 mm, R: 19.9 mm). Mean bilateral distances were: LFO-RFO: 45.34 mm; LFL-RFL: 20.1 mm; LCC-RCC: 52.1 mm; LOC-ROC: 17.6 mm; LJF-RJF: 45.2 mm; LHC-RHC: 33.5 mm. The following mean distances were observed from the FM: FM-OC (L: 8.3 mm, R: 9.3 mm); FM-HC (L: 17.8 mm, R: 17.4 mm). Also the mean distance of OC-HC were observed (L: 11.7 mm, R: 11.4 mm). Present measurements suggest that the PT can be used as an anatomical landmark during surgery involving clival pathology. However, the anatomy and variations of the extracranial clivus and surrounding structures must be taken into consideration.</p

Awareness raising about protection from sexual abuse in mild mental disabled children parents: Practice sample of an educationHafif zihinsel engelli çocukların ebeveynlerinde çocuk cinsel istismari konusunda farkındalık yaratma: Eğitim uygulaması örneği

Increasing awareness of the mental disabled children and their families related to sexual abuse could help them in protecting from this experience. This study was conducted to conceive awareness about sexual abuse in mental disabled children families as experimental with pre-post test design. Fifteen mild mental disabled children parents were taken to the study. Data were collected with Parent Interview Form by the researcher. Education for the parents was given with Parents Education Guide Booklets and PowerPoint presentations in 6 sessions. Ethical institute assent and written consents of the parents were taken. For analysis number, percentage and Wilcoxon tests were used.Also, parents' general knowledge scores increase in all educational subjects. İt is determined that there was a statistical difference regarding to the parents’ scores of general knowledge about all education subjects between before and after the education (p&lt;0.05).After the study; the awareness of mental disabled children parents about protecting from a possible sexual abuse were increased as desired with educations about protecting from sexual abuse.  Extended English abstract is in the end of PDF (TURKISH) file.ÖzetZihinsel engelli çocukların ailelerinin çocuk cinsel istismarı konusunda farkındalıklarının artması çocuklarının karşılaşabilecekleri olası bir cinsel istismar deneyiminden korunmaları konusunda yardımcı olabilir.Bu araştırma, zihinsel engelli çocukların ebeveynlerinde cinsel istismar konusunda farkındalık yaratmak amacıyla öntest-sontest yarı deneysel desende yapılmıştır. Araştırma 15 hafif zihinsel engelli çocuk sahip ebeveyn ile gerçekleştirilmiştir. Veriler Ebeveyn Görüşme Formu kullanılarak toplanmıştır. Eğitimler Ebeveyn Eğitimi Kılavuz Kitapçıkları ve Sunuları ile 6 eğitim oturumunda gerçekleştirilmiştir. Etik kurul onayı ve ebeveynlerden yazılı bilgilendirilmiş onam formu alınmıştır. Değerlendirmede sayı, yüzdelik ve Wilcoxon testi kullanılmıştır.Ebeveynlerin tüm eğitim konularında genel bilgi puanlarının arttığı ve eğitim öncesi ve sonrası arasında istatistiksel fark olduğu (p&lt;0.05) belirlenmiştir.Araştırma sonucunda; zihinsel engelli çocukların ebeveynlerine verilen cinsel istismardan korunma eğitimleri ile olası bir cinsel istismardan korunmada farkındalıkları istendik yönde arttırılmıştır

Change in Critical Thinking Levels of the Nursing Students During Learning Experiences

Giriş: Eleştirel düşünme; kendine güven, atılganlık, sorumluluk alma, problem çözme becerilerini gerektiren karmaşık bir süreçtir. Eleştireldüşünme gücünü kazanmada öğrencilerin etkin rol aldığı eğitim yöntemlerini kullanmak önemlidir. Amaç: Çalışma, entegre müfredat veinteraktif eğitim yöntemleri uygulanan hemşirelik bölümü öğrencilerinin eleştirel düşünme düzeylerini belirlemek amacıyla yapılmıştır.Yöntem: Çalışma, derslerin modüler sistemle, entegre müfredat ve interaktif eğitim yöntemiyle işlendiği bir sağlık yüksekokulundayapılmıştır. Okulda, 2005-2006 Eğitim-Öğretim yılında entegre müfredata geçilmiş ve hemşirelik bölümüne kayıt yaptıran bütün öğrenciler(N = 47) çalışmaya alınmıştır. Öğrencilere birinci sınıfta sosyodemografik özelliklere ilişkin anket formu; birinci, üçüncü ve dördüncü sınıftaWatson-Glaser Eleştirel Akıl Yürütme Gücü Ölçeği uygulanmıştır. Veriler, homojenlik ve tekrarlı ölçümlerde varyans analizi testleri iledeğerlendirilmiştir. Bulgular: Çalışmaya katılan öğrencilerin, %31.9'unun 18 yaşında olduğu, %51.1'inin kendisini atak-girişken olaraktanımladığı, %93.6'sının çekirdek ailede yaşadığı, %55.3'ünün annesinin, %34.3'ünün babasının ilkokul mezunu olduğu belirlenmiştir.Öğrencilerin üçüncü sınıftaki eleştirel düşünmeye ilişkin tüm ölçek puan ortalamalarının birinci ve dördüncü sınıfa göre fazla olduğusaptanmıştır (p &lt; .001). Yapılan tekrarlı ölçümlerde özellikle çıkarsama, yorumlama ve tartışmaların değerlendirilmesi alt ölçek ve geneltoplam puan ortalamaları arasındaki farkın istatistiksel olarak önemli olduğu belirlenmiştir (p &lt; .05). Sonuç: Entegre müfredat ve interaktiföğretim yöntemiyle yapılan eğitimin öğrencilerin eleştirel düşünme düzeyleri üzerinde olumlu etkisi olduğu görülmektedir. Background: Critical thinking is a complex process that requires self-confidence, assertiveness, taking responsibility and problem solvingskills. In developing critical thinking ability, it is important to use educational methods that students play active role. Objectives: The aim ofthis study was to determine the critical thinking levels of nursing students' that applied integrated curriculum and interactive educationalmethods. Methods: The study was conducted in a health school that taught lessons with integrated curriculum, interactive educationalmethods and modular system. The school was adopted an integrated curriculum in the academic year 2005-2006. The research groupconsisted of all nursing students (N = 47) attending to nursing department. The data was collected by a questionnaire form (in the first-grade)and Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Scale (in the first, third and fourth-grades). The data were evaluated by tests of homogeneityand analysis of variance for repeated measurements. Results: Of the students, 31.9% were 18 years old, 51.1% described as confidentassertivethemselves, 93.6% lived in nuclear family were determined. Also, 55.3% their mother and, 34.3% their father were graduated fromprimary school. All the critical thinking mean scores of students measured in the third-grade were higher than the first and fourth-grade (p &lt;.001). In repeated measurements, it was determined were statistically significant differences between the mean scores of interpretation,evaluation of the discussions subscales and total (p &lt; .05). Conclusion: It is seen that education used integrated curriculum and interactiveeducational methods are a positive impact on critical thinking levels of nursing students

Investigation of survivin gene polymorphism in patients with gastric carcinoma

Objectives: Despite decreasing incidence of gastric cancerin worldwide, it is still a major health problem. Everyyear, 30.000 new gastric cancer cases emerging, and itis the second most common cancer in Turkey. Gastriccancer is a complex multifactorial disease, emerging byinteraction between genetic and environmental factors.Survivin, apoptosis inhibitory protein is over-expressed incancer tissue. In this study, association between Survivin-31G/C polymorphism and gastric carcinoma was investigated.Materials and Methods: 46 gastric carcinoma patientswho had been admitted at Düzce University Researchand Practice Hospital, Laboratory of Pathology and 42healthy individuals have been included in the study. Sampleshave been subjected to genetic analysis by PCRRFLPmethod in Medical Genetics Department laboratoryat Düzce University.Results: GG genotype was found in 16 (34.8%), GCgenotype in 21 (45.7%), CC genotype in 9 (19.6%) in patientgroup. In control group, genotype distribution werefound 13 (31%), 26 (61.9%) and 3 (7.1%) respectively.The statistically significant difference was not found whencompared between patient and control groups. However,we observed the increased occurrence of gastric cancerassociated with CC genotype (OR=1.52).Conclusions: In our knowledge, this study is the first toevaluate the relationship between gastric carcinoma andSurvivin -31G/C polymorphism in Turkish population. Ourresults show that there is no any association betweengastric carcinoma and Survivin -31G/C polymorphismin the community which is represented by our study andcontrol groups. However, it was concluded that CC genotypemay create the susceptibility to gastric cancer.Key words: Polymorphism, gastric carcinoma, survivinggene, apoptosi

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome in a Child: A Case Report

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a painful clinical condition that usually seen on the distal extremity, affects children and adults. It is more common in adults. CRPS is usually characterized by severe pain, swelling, limitation of movement, trophic disorders, and spotted osteoporosis following triggering stimulus. CRPS-1 is not a peripheral nerve lesion, it develops following trauma, surgical applications and central nervous system lesion. On the other hand CRPS-2 occurs after peripheral nerve lesion. In CRPS-1, a more severe effect is seen than the initiating factor. CRPS-1 is a rare clinical condition in children. In this article, a 9-year-old male patient which developed CRPS-1 following lower extremity fracture is presented in company with current literature

Etiology, diagnosis, and treatment in childhood atelectasis

Introduction: Atelectasis is the loss of lung volume secondary to collapse. Narrow and collapsible airways and underlying chronic diseases facilitate the development of atelectasis in children. Since atelectasis is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in children, early diagnosis and treatment are of great importance. Methods: Thirty-six patients who were followed up in the pediatric service and pediatric intensive care unit of our clinic be - tween December 1, 2018, and June 1, 2019, and were diagnosed radiologically with atelectasis were evaluated retrospectively. Results: The median age was 1.85 years (1.0–7.37). The most common cause for hospitalization was pneumonia (n=30, 83%). Except for two patients, all patients had an underlying disease that increased the risk of atelectasis. Neurological diseases were the most common diseases among the underlying diseases (n=12, 36%). For the treatment, 4 (11.1%) patients received chest physiotherapy, 19 (52.7%) patients received nebulized medications, and chest physiotherapy, and 13 (36.1%) patients received positive end-expiratory pressure support in addition to these treatments. The frequency of atelectasis in more than one localization was higher in children with the neurological disease than in other patients (n=7, [54%] vs. n=3, [13%]; p=0.018). In patients with atelectasis in more than one localization, the duration of hospitalization was longer (median 12.5 days [9.5–16.75] vs. 19 days [13–22.75]; p=0.034). Discussion and Conclusion: Atelectasis is common in hospitalized children with an underlying disease. In the presence of pathological respiratory symptoms and signs, atelectasis should be kept in mind, and treatment should be started early

Disability Distribution of Geriatric Patients Applying to the Board of Health for Disabled in a Rural Region

Objective:To determine the demographic characteristics, disability ratios, and disability distribution of geriatric patients who applied to an educational research hospital in the rural region to receive a health board report in order to benefit from the disability rights.Materials and Methods:The hospital archive was searched and the records between 01/01/2016 and 31/12/2016 were examined. The demographic characteristics of the patients, whether they were “severely disabled” or not, the number of patients with disabilities according to organ systems were determined and the disability ratios were calculated based on the “Regulation on Disability Criterion, Classification and Health Board Reports for Disability”. A list of diseases constituting the rate of disability was established and its numbers were determined.Results:Among the 699 geriatric patients who referred to the health board, 426 (60.9%) were female and 273 (39.1%) were male. The mean age of the patients was 77.62±7.74 years (minimum: 65, maximum: 104) (female: 78.07±7.54, male: 76.93±8.02), the mean disability ratio was 79.96±17.79% (10-100). The average disability ratio of females was 79.66±17.61% and the average disability ratio of males were 80.41±18.24%. There was no statistically significant difference between the male and female groups in terms of the mean disability ratio (p=0.239). Of the 202 (28.9%) patients who were considered to be severely disabled, 123 were female (60.9%) and 79 were male (39.1%). There was no statistically significant difference between male and female groups in severely disabled ratios (p=0.457). The first three organ systems constituting disability ratio in patients were the cardiovascular system, the musculoskeletal system, and the visual system. The number of patients with disabilities in the cardiovascular and musculoskeletal system was higher in women, but there was no statistically significant difference between the disability percentages of these systems.Conclusion:The highest rate of disability has been seen in the cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and visual system in geriatric patients. In the practice of routine geriatric outpatient clinics, the pathologies of these organ systems should be evaluated in more detail and managed before creating disability