UTA method for the consulting firm selection problem

The market conditions change due to the introduction of new products, unforseen demand fluctuations, rapid change of the life cycle of products and profit margins. Therefore, companies try to survive in a competitive environment by making their operational decisions strategically and systematically. Selection problems play an important role among these decisions. In the literature there are many robust MCDM (Multi Criteria Decision Making) methods that consider the conflicting selection criteria and alternatives. In this paper the consulting firm selection problem is solved with UTA (UTility Additive) method which is one of the MCDM methods. This method considers preference of the decision makers on alternatives and uses linear programming model to obtain a utility function having a minimum deviation from the preferences. In order to illustrate the efficiency and effectiveness of the method, a real case study is presented

A comparative study for the agricultural tractor selection problem

Agricultural tractor selection is vital for farms, farmers or other agricultural companies in terms of success and competitiveness in the global market. This selection may be assumed as a MCDM (Multi Criteria Decision Making) problem involving qualitative and quantitative factors that must be simultaneously integrated into the selection process. At the same time there are many agricultural tractor alternatives in the market when purchasing an agricultural tractor. This paper deals with the agricultural tractor selection problem using TOPSIS method. This problem is also solved with two other MCDM methods; COPRAS (COmplex PRoportional ASsessment) and EVAMIX (EVAluation of MIXed Data) to rank the tractors alternatives. Lastly Borda and Copeland methods are used to aggregate all three ranking results. © 2016 Growing Science Ltd. All rights reserved

An alternative approach based on fuzzy PROMETHEE method for the supplier selection problem

In this paper, an alternative version of the fuzzy PROMETHEE (Preference Ranking Organization Method for Enrichment Evaluations) method is proposed. Differently from other studies, preference functions used in PROMETHEE method are handled in terms of fuzzy distances between alternatives with respect to each criterion. In order to indicate the applicability of this method, it is applied for a supplier selection problem in the literature. Ranking results are similar obtained by TOPSIS (Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution) and fuzzy ELECTRE (ELimination Et Choix Traduisant la REalité) methods. The implementation of the proposed method indicates that the amount of computations is decreased and decision makers can easily reach to desirable solution. © 2016 Growing Science Ltd. All rights reserved

Security of the internet of things: Home network security review and evaluation

Evrensel Tak ve Çalıştır (Universal Plug and Play, UPnP) ve IoT iletişim protokolleri sayesinde cihazların birbirleriyle ve ağ ile bağlantıları çok daha kolay ve hızlı yapılabildiğinden ev ağındaki bağlantı sayısı da artmıştır. Akıllı televizyonlar ve temizlik robotları gibi akıllı cihazlar, yaşam konforumuzu artırmakta ve ev ağı üzerinden tüm dünyaya bağlantı sağlar hale gelmiştir. Bu nedenle, ev ağının internete bağlı olduğu gerçeği ağdaki akıllı cihazların güvenlik durumlarının sorgulanması ihtiyacını ortaya çıkarmıştır. Bu çalışmada, ev ağı içerisindeki popüler cihazların güvenlik seviyelerinin analiz edilmesi sağlanmıştır. Ev Ağı içerisinde UPnP zafiyetine sahip cihazların varlığını tespit etmek için Python yazılım dili kullanılarak uygulama geliştirilmiştir. Geliştirilen uygulama kullanılarak ev ağı içerisindeki 15 adet cihazdan 3 adet cihazın UPnP açıklığına sahip olduğu görülmüştür. Bir senaryo içerisinde UpNP açıklığı kullanılarak saldırı uygulaması gerçekleştirilmiştir. Bu çalışma ile evdeki ağ ve iletişim yöntemleri güvenliğinin yanında her bir IoT cihazın güvenliğinin sağlanmasının gerekliliği ayrıntılı olarak sunulmuştur.As a result of Universal Plug-and-Play (UPnP) and Internet of Things (IoT) communication protocols, the number of connections in home networks has expanded, as devices can be connected to each other and to the network more easily and quickly. Over the home network, smart devices such as smart televisions and cleaning robots boost our living comfort and connect us to the entire globe. The fact that the home network is connected to the Internet has therefore revealed the necessity to question the security status of networked smart devices. This study provides an analysis of the security levels of popular home network devices. Using the Python programming language, a program has been developed to detect the presence of UPnP-vulnerable devices on a home network. Using the built application, it was discovered that three out of fifteen network devices support UPnP. In a scenario, an attack was built via the UpNP vulnerability. In this study, the necessity of guaranteeing the security of each IoT device, as well as the security of the home's network and communication techniques, is discussed in depth

Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura and Cardiovascular Disease: Is Elevated Triglycerides to High-density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Ratio a Marker?

Introduction:Triglycerides to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL-C) ratio is used as a cardiovascular risk marker. We aimed to investigate the relationship between TG/HDL ratio and eltrombopag use, current platelet values and whether or not splenectomy was performed in patients with chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), and to emphasize its prognostic importance in terms of cardiovascular markers.Methods:One hundred and thirty-nine chronic ITP patients followed in the hematology outpatient clinic were evaluated retrospectively. We investigated the negative effect of splenectomy, eltrombopag use and current platelet values on cardiovascular diseases. Patients were stratified into two groups according to their baseline TG/HDL-C ratio, using a TG/HDL-C ratio cut-off value of 2.5.Results:A total number of 139 chronic ITP patients aged between 18-76 years, followed-up in the hematology outpatient clinic, were included in the study; and 102 of the patients were female (75%). The mean platelet value was 2913.24±103353.64/mm3, and the mean TG/HDL-C ratio was 2.91±2.09. There were 46 (33.8%) patients who had splenectomy. When patients were evaluated in terms of treatment modalities; 127 patients (93.4%), 60 patients (44.1%), and 19 (13.9%) patients were using methyl prednisolone, intravenous immunoglobulin, and eltrombopag, respectively. It was observed that the parameters were similar in patients using and not using eltrombopag (p>0.05). There was a weak and statistically significant correlation between TG/HDL-C values and age (r=0.275; p=0.001). There was a significant correlation between the presence of DM and hyperlipidemia and the TG/HDL-C ratio (p<0.05). In risk assessment, the TG/HDL-C ratio of individuals without coronary artery disease was 2.29 (1.47 3.38) and it was found to be statistically significantly low (p=0.025).Conclusion:TG/HDL-C ratio can be used as an independent risk marker that can be diagnostic in predicting cardiovascular disease risk in ITP patients with advanced age and additional comorbid diseases (DM and hyperlipidemia)

Biochemical, biomechanical and imaging biomarkers of ischemic stroke:Time for integrative thinking

Stroke is one of the leading causes of adult disability affecting millions of people worldwide. Post-stroke cognitive and motor impairments diminish quality of life and functional independence. There is an increased risk of having a second stroke and developing secondary conditions with long-term social and economic impacts. With increasing number of stroke incidents, shortage of medical professionals and limited budgets, health services are struggling to provide a care that can break the vicious cycle of stroke. Effective post-stroke recovery hinges on holistic, integrative and personalized care starting from improved diagnosis and treatment in clinics to continuous rehabilitation and support in the community. To improve stroke care pathways, there have been growing efforts in discovering biomarkers that can provide valuable insights into the neural, physiological and biomechanical consequences of stroke and how patients respond to new interventions. In this review paper, we aim to summarize recent biomarker discovery research focusing on three modalities (brain imaging, blood sampling and gait assessments), look at some established and forthcoming biomarkers, and discuss their usefulness and complementarity within the context of comprehensive stroke care. We also emphasize the importance of biomarker guided personalized interventions to enhance stroke treatment and post-stroke recovery.</p

Survival results according to Oncotype Dx recurrence score in patients with hormone receptor positive HER-2 negative early-stage breast cancer: first multicenter Oncotype Dx recurrence score survival data of Turkey

BackgroundThe Oncotype Dx recurrence score (ODx-RS) guides the adjuvant chemotherapy decision-making process for patients with early-stage hormone receptor-positive, HER-2 receptor-negative breast cancer. This study aimed to evaluate survival and its correlation with ODx-RS in pT1-2, N0-N1mic patients treated with adjuvant therapy based on tumor board decisions.Patients and methodsEstrogen-positive HER-2 negative early-stage breast cancer patients (pT1-2 N0, N1mic) with known ODx-RS, operated on between 2010 and 2014, were included in this study. The primary aim was to evaluate 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rates according to ODX-RS.ResultsA total of 203 eligible patients were included in the study, with a median age of 48 (range 26-75) and median follow-up of 84 (range 23-138) months. ROC curve analysis for all patients revealed a recurrence cut-off age of 45 years, prompting evaluation by grouping patients as ≤45 years vs. &gt;45 years. No significant difference in five-year DFS rates was observed between the endocrine-only (ET) and chemo-endocrine (CE) groups. However, among the ET group, DFS was higher in patients over 45 years compared to those aged ≤45 years. When stratifying by ODx-RS as 0-17 and ≥18, DFS was significantly higher in the former group within the ET group. However, such differences were not seen in the CE group. In the ET group, an ODx-RS ≥18 and menopausal status were identified as independent factors affecting survival, with only an ODx-RS ≥18 impacting DFS in patients aged ≤45 years. The ROC curve analysis for this subgroup found the ODx-RS cut-off to be 18.ConclusionThis first multicenter Oncotype Dx survival analysis in Turkey demonstrates the importance of Oncotype Dx recurrence score and age in determining treatment strategies for early-stage breast cancer patients. As a different aproach to the literature, our findings suggest that the addition of chemotherapy to endocrine therapy in young patients (≤45 years) with Oncotype Dx recurrence scores of ≥18 improves DFS

Examining behavioral problems in early childhood in terms of various variables

Bu çalışma için gerekli etik kurulu izni, Hacettepe Üniversitesi Senatosu Etik Komisyonunun 9 Ekim 2018 tarihinde gerçekleştirdiği toplantıda alınmıştır.Bu araştırmada erken çocuklukta görülen davranış problemlerinin çeşitli değişkenlere göre incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Araştırma grubunu Ankara ili Keçiören ilçesine bağlı 7 bağımsız anaokulunda bulunan 177 çocuk ve çocukların öğretmenlerinin (34) oluşturduğu çalışma, nicel araştırma yöntemlerinden tarama modeline ve kesitsel tarama desenine göre tasarlanmıştır. Çalışmada verilerin elde edilmesinde “Okulöncesi ve Anaokulu Davranış Ölçeği (AODÖ)” ile araştırmacı tarafından geliştirilen “Öğretmen Bilgi Formu” kullanılmıştır. Araştırmada elde edilen verilerin normal dağılmaması nedeniyle, iki gruplu karşılaştırmalarda Mann-Whitney U testi, üç ve daha fazla gruplu karşılaştırmalarda ise Kruskall-Wallis H testi kullanılmıştır. Araştırma sonucunda, okul öncesi dönem çocuklarında görülen davranış problemlerinin çocukların cinsiyetine, yaşına, daha öncesinde herhangi bir eğitim kurumuna gitme durumuna, çocuğun sakatlık, özür ya da özel eğitim gerektiren durumu ile ailenin gelir düzeyine göre anlamlı düzeyde farklılık gösterdiği; buna karşın çocuğun kardeş sayısı, anne ve baba yaşı ile anne ve baba eğitim durumuna göre anlamlı bir farklılık göstermediği sonucuna ulaşılmıştır.In this study, it is aimed to investigate behavioral problems in early childhood according to various variables. The study sample included 177 children between the ages of 4 and 6 attending 7 independent kindergartens in Keçiören District of Ankara Province, and their teachers (34). This study was designed from a quantitative research method according to the screening model and cross-sectional screening design. Study data were collected using “Preschool and Kindergarten Behavior Scales (PKBS-2)” as well as “Teacher Information Form” developed by the researcher. Since the data obtained from the research were not exhibited a normal distribution, the Mann-Whitney U test was used in two-group comparisons and the Kruskall-Wallis H test was used in comparisons with three or more groups. As a result of the study, it was found that the behavioral problems observed on children’s of preschoolers indicates a significant difference depending on the gender of the child, age, the status of attending an educational institution before, presence of a condition requiring special education and total income of the family; on the other hand, it was found that there was no significant difference depending on the children’s number of siblings, and age and education levels of the parents

Bilinçli Farkındalık Aile Eğitim Programının Ebeveynlerin Bilinçli Farkındalıkları, Yetkinlik Algıları ve İletişim Düzeyleri ile Çocukların Davranış Sorunları Üzerindeki Etkisinin İncelenmesi

In this study, examining the effect of the Mindfulness parent training programme developed for the parents of preschool children (preschoolers) on parents’ mindfulness, perception of competence, communication levels and behavioral problems of children was aimed. The sample of this research consists of 4-6 year old children attending independent preschools (38), and (38) parents of these children in Kecioren district of Ankara. In this research, experimental design with pre-test post-test control group, which requires measurement in control and experimental groups before and after training, was used. Mindfulness parent training program, which was developed by the need analysis study, was applied to 19 mothers once a week for 11 weeks. In order to obtain information of the research data, Mindfulness in Parenting Questionnaire Scale, Parental Self-Efficacy Scale, Parent’s Communication with the Child Scale, and also in order to determine the demographic characteristics of the parents ‘Family İnformation Form’ were used. Also, to determine the demographic characteristics of children with behavioral problems ‘Teacher Information Form’, which was developed by the researcher, was used. In order to evaluate whether the training was given effectively the permanence test was conducted only on treatment group after six weeks of the training was completed. In the analysis of the data; Mann Whitney U Test, Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test and effect size analysis were used. In all analysis, the significance level was taken as p<0,05. As a result of the research, it has been observed that the applied parent training program has a positive effect on the parents’ mindfulness, perception of competence, communication levels of the parents and children's behavioral problems, and these effects are permanent.Bu araştırmada, okul öncesi dönem çocuklarının ebeveynlerine yönelik geliştirilen Bilinçli Farkındalık Aile Eğitim Programı’nın ebeveynlerin bilinçli farkındalıkları, yetkinlik algıları ve iletişim düzeyleri ile çocukların davranış sorunları üzerindeki etkisinin incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Araştırmanın örneklemini Ankara ili Keçiören ilçesindeki bağımsız anaokuluna devam eden 4-6 yaş arası çocuklar (38) ile çocukların ebeveynleri (38) oluşturmaktadır. Araştırmada, eğitim öncesi ve sonrası kontrol ve deney gruplarında ölçme yapılmasını gerektiren ön-test son-test kontrol gruplu deneysel desen kullanılmıştır. İhtiyaç analizi çalışması yapılarak oluşturulan Bilinçli Farkındalık Aile Eğitim Programı toplamda 19 anneye haftada 1 kez olmak üzere 11 hafta boyunca uygulanmıştır. Programın etkililiğini değerlendirmek amacıyla oluşturulan kontrol grubuna herhangi bir müdahalede bulunulmamıştır. Araştırmada verilerin elde edilmesinde Ebeveynlikte Bilinçli Farkındalık Ölçeği, Ebeveyn Yetkinlik Ölçeği, Ebeveynin Çocuğuyla İletişimi Ölçeği, Okulöncesi ve Anaokulu Davranış Ölçeği ve ebeveynler ile ilgili demografik bilgileri toplamak amacıyla araştırmacı tarafından geliştirilen ‘Aile Bilgi Formu’ ile davranış sorunları olan çocukların demografik özelliklerini belirleyebilmek amacıyla ‘Öğretmen Bilgi Formu’ kullanılmıştır. Eğitim tamamlandıktan 1,5 ay sonrasında verilen eğitimin etkili olup olmadığının değerlendirilmesi amacıyla sadece deney grubuna kalıcılık testi uygulanmıştır. Verilerin analizinde; Mann Whitney U testi, Wilcoxon İşaretli Sıralar Testi ve etki büyüklüğü analizleri kullanılmıştır. Tüm analizlerde anlamlılık düzeyi p<0,05 olarak alınmıştır. Araştırmanın sonucunda, uygulanan Bilinçli Farkındalık Aile Eğitim Programı’nın ebeveynlerin bilinçli farkındalıkları, yetkinlik algıları ve iletişim düzeyleri ile çocukların davranış sorunları üzerinde olumlu yönde etkili olduğu ve bu etkilerin kalıcı olduğu görülmüştür