Re-mining association mining results through visualization, data envelopment analysis, and decision trees

Re-mining is a general framework which suggests the execution of additional data mining steps based on the results of an original data mining process. This study investigates the multi-faceted re-mining of association mining results, develops and presents a practical methodology, and shows the applicability of the developed methodology through real world data. The methodology suggests re-mining using data visualization, data envelopment analysis, and decision trees. Six hypotheses, regarding how re-mining can be carried out on association mining results, are answered in the case study through empirical analysis

Encapsulating and representing the knowledge on the evaluation of an engineering system

This paper proposes a cross-disciplinary methodology for a fundamental question in product development: How can the innovation patterns during the evolution of an engineering system (ES) be encapsulated, so that it can later be mined through data mining analysis methods? Reverse engineering answers the question of which components a developed engineering system consists of, and how the components interact to make the working product. TRIZ answers the question of which problem-solving principles can be, or have been employed in developing that system, in comparison to its earlier versions, or with respect to similar systems. While these two methodologies have been very popular, to the best of our knowledge, there does not yet exist a methodology that reverseengineers and encapsulates and represents the information regarding the complete product development process in abstract terms. This paper suggests such a methodology, that consists of mathematical formalism, graph visualization, and database representation. The proposed approach is demonstrated by analyzing the design and development process for a prototype wrist-rehabilitation robot

Insights into the efficiencies of on-shore wind turbines: a data-centric analysis

Literature on renewable energy alternative of wind turbines does not include a multidimensional benchmarking studythat can help investment decisions as well as design processes. This paper presents a data-centric analysis of commercial on-shore wind turbines and provides actionable insights through analytical benchmarking through Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), visual data analysis, and statistical hypothesis testing. The paper also introduces a novel visualization approach for the understanding and the interpretation of reference sets, the set of efficient wind turbines that should be taken as benchmark by inefficient ones

Role of cytological characteristics of benign thyroid nodules on effectiveness of their treatment with levothyroxine

Introduction: Levothyroxine (LT4) therapy has been used for the treatment of euthyroid nodular goiter, but there are controversial results about its usefulness. We aimed to evaluate the possible role of benign nodules’ cytological characteristics in response to LT4 therapy. Material and methods: In total, 93 patients with 128 nodules were included in the study; 74 of the nodules were treated with LT4 (group 1), and 54 of them had no medication (group 2). The subgroups consisted of adenomatous nodules, colloid nodules and cystic nodules. Results: In group 1, mean thyroid volume and mean nodule volume were reduced significantly (p = 0.002 and p = 0.022, respectively) with low-normal level thyrotropin (TSH) suppression (between 0.3 mIU/ml and 1.0 mIU/ml), while there were no significant changes in group 2. When we evaluated changes of the initial and last nodule volumes in cytological subgroups, only colloid nodules in group 1 had significant reduction (p = 0.040) and the others had no significant changes. By omitting the colloid nodules, when the other nodules were revaluated, there were no significant changes in either group. Conclusions: On the basis of these results, obtained from a large sample of Anatolian patients, it is possible that LT4 therapy leads to significant reductions of both thyroid volume and nodule size in colloid nodules, but not in other kinds of benign nodules

Arıburnu yalıtaşının (Gelibolu Yarımadası, Türkiye) kökeni ve yaşı üzerine

The beachrock formation on the Ariburnu coast situated in the Gelibolu Peninsula has been studied by field observation, thin-section interpretation, physicochemical analyses including ICP-AES and SEM/EDS, and OSL dating. These analyses reveal the presence of different amounts of major (Si, Ca, Mg, K, Fe, Al and Na) and trace elements within the beachrock cement with Si (36.2%) and Ca (32.68%) dominating the overall composition. Beachrocks composed of highly-fractured and friable beds reach a total thickness of 80 cm extending from + 60 cm at the uppermost level down to-1 m at their most seaward extent and grade from conglomerate to lithic arkose in vertical section. The total amount of CaCO(3) ranges between 59.08% and 36% and the cement consists of high-Mg calcite based on EDS analysis. From SEM examination, four main morphologies were identified in cement material: (1) micritic coatings, (2) cryptocrystalline pore-filling cement, (3) meniscus cement and (4) microbial cement and suggest the presence of marine phreatic conditions with the exception of meniscus bridges, which imply that cementation may have been dominated by carbonate-rich meteoric waters at any successive stage of cementation. Five buried beachrock samples under unconsolidated beach sand were sampled for Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) dating and show that the minimum and maximum ages of beachrock are 1.42 +/- 0.20 ka and 2.28 +/- 0.28 ka BP, respectively.Bu çalışmada Gelibolu Yarımadası’nda, Arıburnu kıyılarındaki yalıtaşı oluşumu arazi verileri, ince kesit yorumlamaları, ICP-AES, EDS ve SEM analizleri ve OSL yaşlandırması ile ele alındı. Analizler yalıtaşı çimentosu içinde Si, Ca, Mg, K, Fe, Al ve Na gibi ana ve iz elementlerin nispeten farklı oranlarda bulunduğunu göstermektedir. Bileşimde Si (36.2%) ve Ca (32.68%) egemendir. Yalıtaşları bol kırıklı ve kırılgan, toplam 80 cm tabaka kalınlığına sahip olup, en yüksek seviyede +60 cm’den deniz içinde –1 m’ye kadar takip edilirler. Düşey kesitte çakıltaşlarından litik arkoza geçişlidirler. Toplam CaCO3 miktarı 59.08% ve 36% arasında değişir. EDS analizlerine gore çimento maddesi yüksek magnezyum kalsittir. SEM analizlerine göre çimento maddesinde 4 ana morfoloji tanımlanmıştır; (1) mikritik tabakalar, (2) kriptokristalin boşluk dolgusu çimento, (3) menisküs çimento ve (4) mikrobial çimento. Bu çimentolar, çimentolanmanın izleyen bir devresinde karbonat bakımından zengin meteorik sularca meydana getirildiğini gösteren menisküs çimento hariç, denizel freatik koşullarda geliştiğini göstermektedir. Kıyı çizgisi gerisindeki plaj kumları altından çıkarılan 5 örneğin ‘optik uyarımlı ışınım tekniği (OSL)’ yöntemi ile yaşlandırması yapıldı. Analizler yalıtaşının oluşum yaşı için minimum 1.42±0.20 bin yıl ve maksimum 2.28±0.28 bin yıl yaşlarını vermektedir.Publisher's Versio

BK virus-associated hemorrhagıc cystitis in patients wıth allogeneıc hematopoıetıc cell transplantation: report of three cases

BK virus is a human polyoma virus. It is acquired in early childhood and remains life-long latent in the genitourinary system. BK virus replication is more common in receiving immunosuppressive therapy receiving patients and transplant patients. BK virus could cause hemorrhagic cystitis in patients with allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Hemorrhagic cystitis is a serious complication of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Hemorrhagic cystitis could cause morbidity and long stay in the hospital. Diagnosis is more frequently determined by the presence of BK virus DNA detected with quantitative or real-time PCR testing in serum or plasma and less often in urine. The reduction of immunosuppression is effective in the treatment of BK virus infection. There are also several agents with anti-BK virus activity. Cidofovir is an active agent against a variety of DNA viruses including poliomyoma viruses and it is a cytosine nucleotide analogue. Intravenous immunoglobulin IgG (IVIG) also includes antibodies against BK and JC (John Cunningham) viruses. Hereby, we report three cases of hemorrhagic cystitis. Hemorrhagic cystitis developed in all these three cases of allogeneic stem cell transplantation due to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). BK virus were detected as the cause of hemorrhagic cystitis in these patients. Irrigation of the bladder was performed. Then levofloxacin 1×750 mg intravenous and IVIG 0.5 gr/kg were started. But the hematuria did not decreased. In the first case, treatment with leflunomide was started, but patient died due to refractory AML and severe graft-versus-host disease after 4th day of leflunamide and levofloxacin treatments. Cidofovir treatment and the reduction of immunosuppressive treatment decreased the BK virus load and resulted symptomatic improvement in the second case. Initiation of cidofovir was planned in the third case. Administration of cidofovir together with the reduction of immunosuppression in the treatment of hemorrhagic cystitis associated with BK virus in allogeneic stem cell transplant recipients could be a good option

Antifungal Stewardship

Antimicrobial stewardship programs have led to significant improvements especially in the management of antibiotic use. There are few studies regarding antifungal stewardship. In recent years, the number of fungal infections has multiplied with the increase in immunosuppressive treatments. As clinical findings are non-specific, diagnostic tools are limited and diagnosis is challenging even for experienced clinicians, and morbidity and mortality is high in these infections. Side effects and drug interactions of antifungal drugs are high and costly. Therefore, there is a need for a multidisciplinary antifungal stewardship program to be developed for the diagnosis and treatment of these diseases