Speed-related traffic accident analysis using GIS-based DBSCAN and NNH clustering

To ensure road safety and reduce traffic accidents, it is essential to determine geographical locations where traffic accidents occur the most. Spatial clustering methods of hot spots are used very effectively to detect such risky areas and take precautions to minimize or even avoid fatal or injury accidents. This study aims to determine speed-related hot spots in the pilot Mersin Region, which includes seven cities in the central-southern part of Turkey. Two different hot spot clustering methods, the Nearest Neighbourhood Hierarchical Clustering Method (NNH) and Density-Based Spatial Clustering of Applications with Noise (DBSCAN) Method, were employed to analyse traffic accident data between 2014-2021, obtained from the General Directorate of Highways. CrimeStat III program, which is free software, was used to detect NNH clusters, while the DBSCAN clusters were obtained using the open-source GIS program QGIS, which was also used to visualize and evaluate the results comparatively. As a result of the analysis, it was determined which method gave more effective results in determining the traffic accident risk clusters. These clusters were analysed based on road geometries (intersection or corridors). In addition, by considering the areas where repeated accidents have occurred over the years, future predictions of traffic accidents have been estimated

Acoustic Tweezing Cytometry Induces Rapid Initiation of Human Embryonic Stem Cell Differentiation.

Mechanical forces play critical roles in influencing human embryonic stem cell (hESC) fate. However, it remains largely uncharacterized how local mechanical forces influence hESC behavior in vitro. Here, we used an ultrasound (US) technique, acoustic tweezing cytometry (ATC), to apply targeted cyclic subcellular forces to hESCs via integrin-bound microbubbles (MBs). We found that ATC-mediated cyclic forces applied for 30 min to hESCs near the edge of a colony induced immediate global responses throughout the colony, suggesting the importance of cell-cell connection in the mechanoresponsiveness of hESCs to ATC-applied forces. ATC application generated increased contractile force, enhanced calcium activity, as well as decreased expression of pluripotency transcription factors Oct4 and Nanog, leading to rapid initiation of hESC differentiation and characteristic epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) events that depend on focal adhesion kinase (FAK) activation and cytoskeleton (CSK) tension. These results reveal a unique, rapid mechanoresponsiveness and community behavior of hESCs to integrin-targeted cyclic forces

THE EFFECT OF SPORTS EDUCATION ON BODY IMAGE OF UNIVERSITY STUDENT ATHLETES

In this study, it was aimed to determine whether the body image of the university student athletes changes according to gender, sports branch and sports education status. Body Perception Scale filled by a total of 540 people, 227 males and 313 females. T-test, one-way analysis of variance and LSD tests were used in statistical processes. A statistically significant difference was found between body Image scores of men and women according to gender (p < 0.05). A statistically significant difference was found between total body image scores according to Body Mass Index (p < 0.05). The scores of the groups with low and high body mass index were found to be higher than the groups with Body Mass Index between 20-25 kg/m2. Body image scores of university student athletes who did not receive sports training were found to be statistically higher than individual athletes and team athletes who received sports education (p < 0.001). In conclusion, in university student athletes, women are worse than men, and those whose body mass index is below normal and higher than normal are less satisfied with their bodies than normal ones. In addition, university students who take sports education have better body image scores. It can be said that sports education has a positive effect on body image score. It is recommended that university student athletes who do not have sports education should be given courses and seminars for sports education. Article visualizations

Big data analytics management capability and firm performance: The mediating role of data-driven culture

The effect of big data analytics on firm performance and the effects of intermediary variables on this relationship are not yet clearly understood. Drawing on the dynamic capability view (DCV), this study investigates the mediating effect of a data-driven culture on the relationship between big data analytics management capability and firm performance (i.e., operational and financial performance). Drawing on survey data from 432 big data experts across 132 firms operating in Turkey, our findings indicate that big data analytics management capability and a data-driven culture have significant positive effects on both the operational and financial performance of a firm. In addition, a data-driven culture significantly mediates the links between big data analytics management capability and the measures of both operational and financial performance. Hence, our findings offer a valuable guide for managers utilizing big data or making big data investments to increase firm performance

Integrinâ Targeted Cyclic Forces Accelerate Neural Tubeâ Like Rosette Formation from Human Embryonic Stem Cells

Mechanical forces play important roles in human embryonic stem cell (hESC) differentiation. To investigate the impact of dynamic mechanical forces on neural induction of hESCs, this study employs acoustic tweezing cytometry (ATC) to apply cyclic forces/strains to hESCs by actuating integrinâ bound microbubbles using ultrasound pulses. Accelerated neural induction of hESCs is demonstrated as the result of combined action of ATC and neural induction medium (NIM). Specifically, application of ATC for 30 min followed by culture in NIM upregulates neuroecdoderm markers Pax6 and Sox1 as early as 6 h after ATC, and induces neural tubeâ like rosette formation at 48 h after ATC. In contrast, no changes are observed in hESCs cultured in NIM without ATC treatment. In the absence of NIM, ATC application decreases Oct4, but does not increase Pax6 and Sox1 expression, nor does it induce neural rossette formation. The effects of ATC are abolished by inhibition of FAK, myosin activity, and RhoA/ROCK signaling. Taken together, the results reveal a synergistic action of ATC and NIM as an integrated mechanobiology mechanism that requires both integrinâ targeted cyclic forces and chemical factors for accelerated neural induction of hESCs.Acoustic tweezing cytometry (ATC) applies integrinâ targeted cyclic forces/strains to human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). Dependent on FAK, myosin activity, and RhoA/ROCK signaling, synergistic action of ATC for 30 min and neural induction medium greatly accelerates neural induction of hESCs, resulting in upregulated neuroecdoderm markers Pax6 and Sox1 by 6 h and neural tubeâ like rosette formation at 48 h.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/151881/1/adbi201900064_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/151881/2/adbi201900064.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/151881/3/adbi201900064-sup-0001-SuppMat.pd

Seed quantity affects the fungal community composition detected using metabarcoding

Acknowledgements We gratefully acknowledge COST Action FP 1406 “Pine pitch canker—strategies for management of Gibberella circinata in greenhouses and forests” (PINESTRENGTH), for supporting F.O. in this work. M.C. is supported by Te Swedish Research Council FORMAS (grant number 2018-00966). S.W. was part-funded by the UK Forestry Commission. Permission has been obtained for collection of seeds for the study.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Abies nordmanniana ssp. bornmülleriana TOMRUKLARINDAN KESİLEN DİSKLERİN Heterobasidion annosum s.l. TARAFINDAN KOLONİZASYONU

Bu çalışmada, Bolu, Aladağ-Şerif Yüksel Araştırma Ormanı’nda yeni kesilmiş, 21 göknar (Abies nordmanniana ssp. bornmülleriana) ağacının tomruklarının farklı yüksekliklerinden alınan 39 adet diskte, Heterobasidion annosum s. l.’ a ait konidioforların varlığı araştırılmıştır. Oda sıcaklığında bir haftalık inkubasyon döneminin sonunda, her bir diskin 5 farklı noktasından alınan konidioforlardan gelişen miselyumda, kanca oluşumuna bakılmış ve bunların % 90,97’sinin homokaryotik % 9,03’ünün ise heterokaryotik karakterde olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Heterokaryotik özellikteki miselyumun elde edildiği disklerde, hastalık etmeninin ağaçta daha önceden bulunduğuna işaret eden tipik belirtilere rastlanmamıştır. Kesitlerin alındığı tarihte havada basidiospor inokulumunun var olduğu, dolayısıyla yeni kesilmiş disklerde gözlenen bulaşmanın basidiosporlar aracılığıyla gerçekleştirildiği sonucuna varıldı. Anahtar kelimeler: Annosum kök çürüklüğü, konidiofor, basidiospor, odun diskleri, göknar

What Is the Important Point Related to Follow-Up Sonographic Evaluation for the Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip?

Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is an important cause of childhood disability. Subluxation or dislocation can be diagnosed through pediatric physical examination; nevertheless, the ultrasonographic examination is necessary in diagnosing certain borderline cases. It has been evaluated routine sonographic examination of 2,444 hips of 1,222 babies to determine differences in both, developmental dysplasia and types of hips, and evaluated their development on the 3-month follow-up. Evaluating the pathologic alpha angles under 59, there was no statistically significant differences between girls and boys in both right (55.57 +/- 3.73) (56.20 +/- 4.01), (p = 0.480), and left (55.79 +/- 3.96) (57.00 +/- 3.84), (p = 0.160) hips on the 45th day of life. Routine sonographic examinations on the 45th day of life revealed that 51 of (66.2%) 77 type 2a right hips were girls and 26 (33.8%) were boys. The number of the right hips that develop into type 1 was 38 (74.5%) for girls and 26 (100%) for boys on the 90th day of life (p = 0.005). A total of 87 type 2a left hips included 64 girls (73.6%) and 23 boys (26.4%). In the 90th day control, 49 right hip of girls (76.6%) and 21 right hip of boys (91.3%) developed into type 1 (p = 0.126). In the assessment of both left and right hips, girls showed a significantly higher frequency in latency and boys showed significantly higher development in the control sonography. A total of 31 girls (2.5%) and 11 boys (0.9%) accounted for a total of 42 (3.4%) cases who showed bilateral type 2a hips in 1,222 infants. On the 90th day control, 26 girls (83.9%) and all 11 boys (100%) developed into type 1 (p = 0.156). The study emphasizes the importance of the sonographic examination on the 90th day of life. Results of the investigation include the data of sonographic screening of DDH on the 45th day, and also stress the importance of the 90th-day control sonography after a close follow-up with physical examination between 45th and 90th days of life

Comparison of Mortality and Morbidities in Small and Appropriate For Gestational Age Preterm Infants

Aim:To compare morbidity and mortality in very low birth weight premature infants (VLBW) with small (SGA) and appropriate (AGA) for gestational age.Materials and Methods:The records of infants with VLBW who were followed up in our unit between 2013 and 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. SGA was defined as the birth weight being below the 10th percentile compared to the gestational week and the AGA birth weight being between the 10th and 90th percentile. A total of 96 SGA infants were identified as the study group and 204 AGA infants randomly selected and matched with the gestational week of the study group. Infants with major congenital anomalies and lack of data were excluded from the study.Results:The mean gestational age (28.3 ± 1.1–28.3 ± 1.2, p = 0.94) and birth weight (769 ± 144–1132 ± 190 g, <0.001, respectively) were in the SGA and AGA group respectively. Preeclampsia and cesarean delivery were significantly more frequent in the SGA group, whereas APGAR score was lower and CRIB score was significantly higher. The frequency of surfactant requirement, moderate-severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia, spontaneous intestinal perforation, periventricular leukomalacia, premature osteopenia, postnatal growth retardation, mortality and feeding intolerance were found to be significantly higher in SGA infants. Similarly, the duration of invasive ventilation and additional oxygen requirement and hospital stay were longer in SGA infants.Conclusion:The birth of premature babies with low birth weight according to gestational age causes premature morbidity and mortality

Trichothiodystrophy-associated MPLKIP maintains DBR1 levels for proper lariat debranching and ectodermal differentiation

The brittle hair syndrome Trichothiodystrophy (TTD) is characterized by variable clinical features, including photosensitivity, ichthyosis, growth retardation, microcephaly, intellectual disability, hypogonadism, and anaemia. TTD-associated mutations typically cause unstable mutant proteins involved in various steps of gene expression, severely reducing steady-state mutant protein levels. However, to date, no such link to instability of gene-expression factors for TTD-associated mutations in MPLKIP/TTDN1 has been established. Here, we present seven additional TTD individuals with MPLKIP mutations from five consanguineous families, with a newly identified MPLKIP variant in one family. By mass spectrometry-based interaction proteomics, we demonstrate that MPLKIP interacts with core splicing factors and the lariat debranching protein DBR1. MPLKIP-deficient primary fibroblasts have reduced steady-state DBR1 protein levels. Using Human Skin Equivalents (HSEs), we observed impaired keratinocyte differentiation associated with compromised splicing and eventually, an imbalanced proteome affecting skin development and, interestingly, also the immune system. Our data show that MPLKIP, through its DBR1 stabilizing role, is implicated in mRNA splicing, which is of particular importance in highly differentiated tissue.</p