Integrated decision support model for performance evaluation of public staff: Using AHP and fuzzy TOPSIS

Küreselleşmenin ve teknolojinin hızla gelişmesi insan kaynağında da yeni ihtiyaçlar oluşturmuştur. Bu ihtiyaçları karşılayabilmenin ve nitelikli iş gücünü elde tutmanın bir yolu da kurumların çalışanlarının performansını değerlendirmesi ile gerçekleşir. Kamu kurumları, verimliliği ve hizmet kalitesini etkileyen kriterleri göz önünde bulundurarak bu değerlendirme sürecini yönetir. Bu çalışmada, kamu performans gereklilikleri dikkate alınarak belirlenen dört ana ve yirmi alt kriter altında bir belediye bünyesinde çalışan yüz personelin performans değerlendirilmiştir. Çalışmada, Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) ile kriterlerin ağırlıklandırılması ve bulanık Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) kullanılarak personelin performans değerlendirmesi yapılmıştır. Ayrıca, bu çalışmada ilgili personelin mevcut performans değerlendirmesi sonuçları ile kullanılan modelden elde edilen sonuçlar lineer regresyon kullanılarak karşılaştırılmıştır. Elde edilen bulgular sonucunda AHP entegreli bulanık TOPSIS modelinin performans değerlendirmede mevcut değerlendirmeden farklı ve etkin sonuçlar elde edebileceği ortaya çıkmıştır. Bu çalışmanın karar vericilere personel değerlendirmesinde objektif kararlar verilmesi ve adil değerlendirmelerin yapılması adına katkı sağlaması beklenmektedir.The rapid development of globalization and technology has created new needs in human resources. One of the ways to meet those needs and retain qualified workforce is by evaluating personnel performance in institutions. Public institutions manage this evaluation process by considering the criteria affecting efficiency and service quality. In this study, performance evaluation of one hundred personnel working in a municipality was carried out under four main and twenty sub-criteria determined by considering public performance requirements. In the study, Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used to weight criteria and fuzzy Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) to evaluate personnel performance. In addition, in this study, the current performance evaluation results of the relevant personnel and the results obtained from the model used were compared using linear regression. The findings revealed that the AHP integrated fuzzy TOPSIS model can achieve different and effective results in performance evaluation than the current evaluation. It is expected that this study will contribute to decision makers to make objective decisions in personnel evaluation and to make fair evaluations.WOS:0007673163000082-s2.0-8512877477

Effects of Water Intake on Biochemical Parameters and Performance During Resistance Exercise

The study aims to determine whether water intake during resistance training impacts the amounts of potassium (K+), sodium (Na+), magnesium (Mg), and calcium (Ca) and to identify the effects of the reactions of these minerals on performance. Ten male university students aged between 20 and 23 participated in the study. The participants did five different previously-determined resistance exercises (3 sets of 8RM). During the training program, the participants did the resistance exercises by not consuming water in the first week and consuming water in the second week. (Pre-exercise and exercise days routine food and fluid intake was maintained, fluid intake restriction was applied only during exercise) The participants’ weight, body mass index (BMI), percent body fat, systolic and diastolic pressure, lactate, Borg scale ratings, and K+, Na+, Mg, and Ca were determined before and after the exercises. Training volume was recorded. Performing the exercises without water intake produced a significant increase in K+. During the exercises done with water intake, there was a significant increase in Na+. No statistical differences were determined in the volume of exercise done with and without water intake. The study shows that water intake during high-intensity resistance training does not have any effect on the volume of exercise. In addition, the changes in Na+ and K+ parameters do not affect the volume of exercise. Although loss of minerals is statistically significant in exercise without water, it is understood that the total amount of minerals lost is not enough to induce a physiological change or a performance change in the total resistance training volume. Water, regardless of the volume and intensity of exercise, promotes balance of metabolism and prevents performance degradation that can occur during sport events (Murray et al., 1991). For this reason, water should be consumed not only in sports activities but also in daily activities

Effect of atorvastatin on spermatogenesis in rats: A stereological study

Purpose: To investigate the effects of oral atorvastatin on spermatogenesis in a rat model.Methods: Rats were equally assigned into control and study groups, the latter receiving atorvastatin (20 mg/kg/day). At the end of 12 weeks, spermatogenetic activity was evaluated using stereological and optical fractionator methods. Serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), total testosterone (TT), and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels were measured using micro–ELISA kits. Total cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL - C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were also measured by enzymatic colorimetric assays.Results: Testicular stereological analysis revealed that atorvastatin reduced Sertoli cell numbers (p < 0.001), spermatogonia (p < 0.001), spermatocytes (p < 0.001), and seminiferous tubule diameters (p < 0.001). LDL – C (p = 0.01) and TG (p = 0.01) values were significantly lower in the study group compared with the control group. There was no significant difference in FSH (p = 0.44), LH (p = 0.48),and TT (p = 0.06) levels between the groups.Conclusion: The findings show that atorvastatin causes deleterious effects on rat spermatogenesis. It should therefore be used with caution in clinical practice owing to its potential adverse effects, especially on male fertility. Keywords: Statin, Atorvastatin, Spermatogenesis, Stereology, Testi

SOTOS SYNDROME: A RARE CAUSE OF TALL STATURE

Sotos sendromu, endokrin bir bozukluk olmaksızın hızlı büyümeyle karakterize birhastalıktır. Ondört yaşında kız hasta boy uzunluğu şikayeti nedeniyle başvurdu. Doğumdave postnatal izlemlerinde boyunun yaşıtlarına göre üst sınırlarda olduğuöğrenilen hastanın klinik incelemelerinde mental retardasyon, makrosefali ve üstsınırda boy persentili saptandı. Bu bulgularla olguya sotos sendromu tanısı konuldu.Bu olgu sunumumuzda aşırı boy uzaması yakınması ile başvuran ve fizik muayenesindedismorfik bulgular saptanan hastaların ayırıcı tanısında sotos sendromunununda düşünülmesinin vurgulanması istenildi.Sotos syndrome is a disorder which is characterized by rapid growth without anyendocrine defect. A 14-year-old female patient was admitted with a complaint of tallstature. Her history revealed that her height was at the upper limits compared to herpeers at the time of birth and during the postnatal follow-ups. Clinical examinationsshowed mental retardation, macrocephaly, and a height percentile at the upper limit.Sotos syndrome was diagnosed with these clinic findings. In this case report, we aimedto stress the necessity of considering the rarely seen Sotos syndrome when making thedifferential diagnosis of patients who apply with the complaint of excessive growth anddemonstrate dismorphic findings at the physical examination

Acute Effect Of Water Intake During Resistance Exercises On Hemogram

Bu çalışmanın amacı, su içerek ve su içmeden yapılan direnç egzersizinin hemogram (lökosit, eritrosit ve trombosit) değerleri üzerine etkilerini belirlemektir. Çalışmaya 20-23 yaş arası on erkek üniversite öğrencisi katılmıştır. Katılımcılar daha önce belirlenen beş farklı direnç egzersizini (3 set 8RM) yapmışlardır. Eğitim programı sırasında, ilk haftada su tüketmeyerek, ikinci haftada su tüketerek direnç egzersizleri yapmışlardır. (Egzersiz öncesi ve egzersiz günlerinde rutin gıda ve sıvı alımı sağlanmış, sadece ilk hafta ki egzersiz sırasında sıvı alım kısıtlaması uygulanmıştır) Katılımcıların Hemogram (Eritrosit, Lökosit ve Trombosit) ölçümleri egzersizden önce ve sonra yapılmıştır. Elde edilen veriler p<0,05 anlamlılık düzeyinde test edilmiştir. Su almadan ve su alarak yapılan aynı direnç egzersizinin hemogram parametreleri üzerindeki etkisini incelediğimizde; Lökosit alt gruplarından su alınarak yapılan egzersiz ön-test son-test değerleri arasında Lymph% değerinde p<0,02 anlamlı bir azalma, Gran % değerinde p<0,04 anlamlı bir artış tespit edilmiştir. Su almadan ve su alarak yapılan aynı direnç egzersizinin Eritrosit alt gruplarından su almadan yapılan egzersiz ön-test son-test değerleri arasında RBC p<0,01 anlamlı azalma, HGB ve HCT değerlerinde p<0,02 anlamlı azalma görülmektedir. Aynı alt grupların (RBC, HGB, HCT) su alınarak yapılan egzersiz ön-test son-test değerleri arasında p<0,01 anlamlı azalma tespit edilmiştir. Su almadan ve su alarak yapılan aynı direnç egzersizinin Trombosit alt gruplarından su almadan yapılan egzersiz ön-test son-test değerleri arasında PDW % değerinde p<0,04 anlamlı azalma görülmüştür. Diğer alt gruplardaki parametre değerlerinde herhangi istatistiksel anlamlı değişim tespit edilmemiştir. İki farklı yöntemde yapılan direnç egzersizi Leucocyte, Erythrocyte, Thrombocyte değerlerinin (su alınmadan) ön-test/son-test (su alarak) ön-test/son-test fark karşılaştırmasında istatistiksel anlamlılık tespit edilmemiştir.The aim of this study is to determine the effects of exercises done by drinking water and not drinking water during resistance training on hemogram (leukocyte, erythrocyte, and thrombocyte). 10 male university students aged between 20 and 23 participated in the study. The participants did five different resistance exercises (3 sets 8 RM) previously determined. During the training program, they did resistance exercises by not consuming water in the first week and consuming water in the second week. (Pre-exercise and exercise days routine food and fluid intake was maintained, fluid intake restriction was applied only during exercise) The participants’ Hemogram (Erythrocyte, Leukocyte and Thrombocyte) measurements were made before and after the exercise. The obtained data were tested at p<0.05 significance level. A significant decrease in Lymph% and a significant decrease in P <0.02 in Gran% were found among exercise pre-test post-test values by taking water from sub leukocyte subgroups. A significant decrease in RBC p <0.01 and a significant decrease in HGB and HCT values of p <0.02 were observed between exercise pre-test post-test values without water intake and water intake of erythrocyte subgroups of the same resistance exercise. A significant decrease in p <0.00 was also found between the exercise pre-test post-test values of the same subgroups (RBC, HGB, HCT). A significant reduction in PDW% value of p <0.04 was observed between the exercise pre-test post-test values of the same resistance exercise without water intake and without taking water from platelet subgroups of the same resistance exercise. No statistically significant change was detected in the parameter values in the other subgroups. The exercise done without water intake; significant difference was found in the parameters of Thrombocyte and Erythrocyte. However, no statistically significant difference was found in the parameters of Leukocyte. The exercise done with water intake; significant difference was found in the parameters of Leukocyte and Erythrocyte. However, no statistically significant difference was found in the parameters of Thrombocyte

Effects of anaerobic interval training with different rest interval on aerobic capacity, anaerobic threshold and blood parameters

Aim: This research is to determine the effects of extensive and intensive interval training practiced in different rest interval and in the same intensity on VO2max and anaerobic threshold and on blood parameters.Material and Methods: 20 male subjects, between 18–22 ages, are participated in the study. They are randomly separated two groups. One of them (n=10) did intensive interval training (IIT), the other one (n=10) did extensive interval training (EIT). EI and II training were applied to participants thought 7 weeks and 3 days per a week and the volume of the daily training, intensity %75, is totally 2800–3000m. We tested the subjects at weights, BMI, Fat %, Fat Mass, VO2max, anaerobic threshold, hemogram and some of the biochemical tests before and after the training.Results: There were significant increase (p&lt;0.05) in the capacity of VO2max and anaerobic threshold at EIT. There were significant increases in the subgroup of erythrocyte; HCT (p&lt;0.05), HGB, MCH, MCHC, RDW–CV and RDW–SD (p&lt;0.01) at EIT. There was significant decreases in the subgroup of leukocyte; LYMPH, in the subgroup of thrombocyte; PCT and in the biochemical analysis; HDL (p&lt;0.05) at EIT. No significant differences were found between before and after IIT in the capacity of VO2max. and anaerobic threshold. There was significant decreases in the subgroup of leukocyte; GRAN, in the subgroup of thrombocyte; PLT and PCT (p&lt;0.05) at IIT. There were significant increase in the subgroup of erythrocyte; MCV and in the biochemical analysis; glucose (p&lt;0.05) at IIT.Conclusion: EIT has a decisive effect on the capacity of VO2max and anaerobic threshold. EI and II training has increased or decreased the level of some blood parameters

Microstructure and Properties of Al-B 4 C Functionally Graded Materials Produced by Powder Metallurgy Method

Abstract In the present work, three different types-layered Al-B 4 C functionally graded materials were fabricated via powder metallurgy. The Al-B 4 C powder mixtures were cold pressed in two different pressures (400 and 500MPa) and sintered at 600 o C for 3h under argon atmosphere. After investigating the pressure and sintering process of the mixed powder with different compositions, the density, microstructure, elemental distribution and hardness variation of the produced FGMs were evaluated. A detailed characterization of the microstructure of the FGMs was carried out using scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis. The results revealed that the mechanical properties of the Al-B 4 C FGMs system strongly depend on constitutional variation, and display various graded distributions as well. The microstructure of FGMs so produced exhibits a gradual change of hardness from 165BHN in aluminum to 250BHN in B 4 C region

Classification of electrocardiogram (ECG) data using deep learning methods

4th International Symposium on Multidisciplinary Studies and Innovative Technologies, ISMSIT 2020 -- 22 October 2020 through 24 October 2020 -- -- 165025Classification is one of the most widely used techniques in healthcare, especially concerning diagnosing cardiac disorders. Arrhythmia is a disorder of the heartbeat rate or rhythm, which may occur sporadically in daily life. Electrocardiogram (ECG) is an important diagnostic tool for analysing cardiac tissues and structures. It includes information about the heart structure and the function of its electrical conduction system. Since manual analysis of heartbeat rate is time-consuming and prone to errors, automatic recognition of arrhythmias using ECG signals has become an increasingly popular research focus in recent years. Current ECG analysis systems in literature generally have implemented well known machine learning algorithms. Due to the advent of powerful parallel computing hardware and the big data technologies, deep learning has also become a widely preferred technique in healthcare applications. In our study, we use ECG data in MIT-BIH Arrhythmia Database to develop a Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) which is a deep feed-forward neural network type. The parameter tuned/optimized version of the proposed algorithm on top of the reduced feature dimension is more efficient than state of the art in terms of accuracy. Finally, we also compare the results of the proposed algorithm with Recurrent Neural Network (RNN), Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU), and we provide the corresponding results in related sections. © 2020 IEEE

The effects of cavity disinfection on the nanoleakage of compomer restorations: an in vitro study

Cavity disinfection, in addition to routine caries removal methods, is recommended to eliminate the microorganisms. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of various systems Er,Cr:YSGG lasers, diode lasers and FotoSan and agents Corsodyl; Cervitec and Cervitec Plus and Fluor Protector—on the nanoleakage of compomer restorations when used for cavity disinfection. Materials and Methods A total of 40 intact human deciduous molar teeth containing Black V cavities (3×2×1.5 mm) on the buccal and lingual surfaces parallel to the cementoenamel junction were randomly divided into 8 groups according to the cavity disinfection methods. The antibacterial agents and systems were applied according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Restorations were completed using a compomer. The restored teeth were then subjected to thermocycling for 500 cycles in a water bath at 5°C and 55°C with a dwell time of 30 seconds. After the thermocycling procedures, 1-mm sticks were obtained from the center of each cavity to prepare for the nanoleakage test. After the teeth were sectioned, they were immersed in 50 wt % ammoniacal silver nitrate solution for 24 hours and dipped in photo-developing solutions for 8 hours with fluorescent light irradiation. The samples were examined under a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U test (p0.05). The Corsodyl (p0.05). Corsodyl (p<0.01) ve Cervitec (p<0.001) gruplarında ise nanosızıntı miktarı kontrol grubuna göre daha yüksek olduğu tespit edildi. Sonuç: Antibakteriyel etkinliği bulunan ve hem kontrol hem de test gruplarına göre daha düşük nanosızıntı değerleri gösteren Er,Cr:YSGG lazer kavite dezenfeksiyonunda önerilebilir. Ayrıca antibakteriyel etkinliği bulunan ve sızıntıyı etkilemeyen diod lazer ve FotoSan da kavite dezenfeksiyonunda önerilebilecek yöntemler arasında yer alabilir. Anahtar kelimeler: Er,Cr:YSGG Lazer; Diod Lazer; FotoSan; Antibakteriyal Ajan; Nanosızıntı