Effect of Stirrup Spacing and Polypropylene Fiber Ratio on Behavior of Reinforced Concrete Beams

In this study, the effect of the change of stirrup ratio and polypropylene (PP) fiber ratio on the behavior of reinforced concrete beams was investigated. The variables of this study consisting of without stirrup, spacing up to 20 %, 40 % and 80 % of beam depth as stirrup spacing and 0.125 % and 0.500 % of the weight of reinforced concrete beam were used as PP fiber ratios. In the context of experimental study, 1/2 scaled 12 reinforced concrete beams were tested with 4-point bending mechanism. In the light of the obtained data, the load-displacement, stiffness and energy absorption graphs were plotted. The results were interpreted comparatively. According to the results, it is observed that the PP fiber additive significantly changed the behavior of the reinforced concrete beams, and the fiber effect decreased in proportion to the increase of the stirrup rate. It has been observed that the cracks spread more to the beam surfaces with the increase of PP fibers. In addition, the increase in the fiber ratio especially in the non-stirrup beams increases the bending capacity

Demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with sustained and switching treatments using biological and targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs: A multicenter, observational cross-sectional study for rheumatoid arthritis

Introduction Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease with different disease activity grades. Several registries have been designed to determine the appropriate regimens of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs to obtain sustained clinical remission. We examined epidemiological and clinical characteristics of rheumatoid arthritis patients using a clinical registry database (BioSTaR) and analyzed the differences in patients with sustained and switched therapies. Methods A multicenter, observational cross-sectional study for rheumatoid arthritis was performed between February 2019 and September 2020 using the BioStaR-RA registry. Demographic and clinical characteristics were prospectively recorded into a specifically designed electronic database. The patients were divided into three groups due to the heterogeneity of the study cohort. Patients were grouped as Group I (Initial; within the first 6 months of treatment with biological/targeted synthetic drugs), Group ST (Sustained Treatment; any first drug lasting for at least 6 months without any change), and Group S (Switch; any switching to another drug). Comparative analysis was performed between sustained treatment (Group ST) and drug switching (Group S) groups. Results The study included a total of 565 patients. The mean age was 53.7 +/- 12.8 years, and the majority were female (80.4%). There were 104, 267, and 194 patients in Groups I, ST, and S, respectively. Erosive arthritis and hematological extra-articular involvement were more frequently detected in Group S than Group ST (p = 0.009 and p = 0.001). The patients in Group S had significantly higher disease activity scores (DAS28-CRP, CDAI, and SDAI) (p = 0.025, p = 0.010, and p = 0.003). There were significantly more patients with moderate disease activity in Group S (p < 0.05). Conclusions The groups with sustained treatment and switching included patients with different disease activity status, although higher disease activity was determined in switchers. Overall, moderate disease activity and remission were the most common disease activity levels. Lower disease activity scores, lower hematologic manifestations, better functional status, and lesser radiographic damage are associated with sustained treatment.Turkish Medicine and Medical Devices Agency ; Ankara Numune Egitim ve Arastirma Hastanes

Ischemia and Hemorrhage detection in CT images with Hyper parameter optimization of classification models and Improved UNet Segmentation Model

Deep learning is a powerful technique that has been applied to the task of stroke detection using medical imaging. Stroke is a medical condition that occurs when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted, which can cause brain damage and other serious complications. Detection of stroke is important in order to minimize damage and improve patient outcomes. One of the most common imaging modalities used for stroke detection is CT(Computed Tomography). CT can provide detailed images of the brain and can be used to identify the presence and location of a stroke. Deep learning models, particularly convolutional neural networks (CNNs), have shown promise for the task of stroke detection using CT images. These models can learn to automatically identify patterns in the images that are indicative of a stroke, such as the presence of an infarct or hemorrhage. Some examples of deep learning models used for stroke detection in CT images are U-Net, which is commonly used for medical image segmentation tasks, and CNNs, which have been trained to classify brain CT images into normal or abnormal. The purpose of this study is to identify the type of stroke from brain CT images taken without the administration of a contrast agent, i.e. occlusive (ischemic) or hemorrhagic (hemorrhagic). Stroke images were collected and a dataset was constructed with medical specialists. Deep learning classification models were evaluated with hyperparameter optimization techniques. And the result segmented with improved Unet model to visualize the stroke in CT images. Classification models were compared and VGG16 achieved %94 success. Unet model was achieved %60 IOU and detected the ischemia and hemorrhage differences

Kurumsal Teori Bağlamında Türkiye’de Finansal Performans-Firma İtibarı İlişkisi

The scholars who indicate the institutional quality as one of main sources of economic growth state that any endeavor of companies increasing production and employment are no longer sufficient for sustainable growth. Therefore, economies need intangible assets such as corporate reputation (CR). CR entirely depends on stakeholders’ perception. In this study, we investigate the potential linkage between CR and financial performances of companies, which can affect the stakeholders’ perception, in Turkey between 2006 and 2016. The results show that any increase in companies’ assets fosters the perceptions of stakeholders in next period while a raise in indebtedness causes worse reputationİktisadi büyümenin ana kaynaklarından biri olarak kurumsal kaliteyi gösteren araştırmacılar, sürdürülebilir büyüme için firmaların üretim ve istihdam artışı sağlama çabalarının artık yeterli olmadığını belirtmektedirler. Dolayısıyla ekonomilerin firma itibarı gibi maddi olmayan duran varlıklara ihtiyaçları vardır. Firma itibarı tamamen paydaşların algılarına dayanmaktadır. Bu çalışmada, Türkiye’de 2006-2016 yılları arasında firma itibarı ile paydaşların algılarını etkileyebilen finansal performans arasındaki potansiyel ilişki incelenmektedir. Sonuçlar, şirketlerin varlıklarındaki herhangi bir artışın bir sonraki dönemde paydaşların algılarını artırdığını, borçluluktaki artışın ise daha kötü bir firma itibarı yarattığını gösteriyor

PENCERE BOŞLUKLU PERDE DUVARLA GÜÇLENDİRİLMİŞ 1/3 ÖLÇEKLİ BETONARME ÇERÇEVELERİN DAVRANIŞI

Bu deneysel çalışmada, 1/3 ölçekli, tek açıklıklı, iki katlı, 6 adet betonarme çerçeve üretilmiş vepencere boşluklu veya boşluksuz dolgu duvar ile güçlendirilerek davranışları araştırılmıştır. Bu deneynumuneleri depremi benzeştiren tersinir-tekrarlanır yükler altında test edilmiştir. Deney numuneleriTürkiye’deki betonarme yapılarda çoğunlukla gözlemlenen eksiklikleri yansıtacak şekilde üretilmiştir.İlk deney numunesi güçlendirme uygulaması yapılmamış referans numunedir. Diğer numuneler isefarklı pencere boşluk oranlarına ve konumuna sahip betonarme dolgu duvarlı numunelerdir. Yapılandeneylerin sonuçları betonarme dolgu duvarların, dayanım, rijitlik ve enerji tüketme üzerindekietkilerini ortaya koyacak şekilde değerlendirilmiştir. Deney sonuçları, betonarme dolgu duvarlınumunelerin, referans numuneden daha fazla yatay yük dayanımına, enerji tüketimine ve rijitliğe sahipolduğunu göstermiştir.In this experimental study, 1/3 scaled, one-bay/two-storey, six reinforced concrete frames were constructed and tested to investigate the behavior of frames strengthened by introducing infills with or without openings. The test specimens were subjected to reversed cyclic loading simulating the seismic action. The specimens were constructed with the most commonly observed deficiencies in residential reinforced concrete buildings in Turkey. The first specimen was the reference specimen and contained no strengthening. The other specimens were infilled with reinforced concrete panels with openings having different ratios and configurations. Experimental results were evaluated to understand the effect of reinforced concrete infill wall on strength, stiffness and energy dissipation. The experimental results indicated that infilled RC frames shown higher lateral strength, energy dissipation and stiffness than the reference specimen considerably

The Behavior of Strengthening 1/3 Scaled Reinforced Concrete Frames by Using Reinforced Concrete Shear Walls with Openings

Bu deneysel çalışmada, 1/3 ölçekli, tek açıklıklı, iki katlı, 6 adet betonarme çerçeve üretilmiş vepencere boşluklu veya boşluksuz dolgu duvar ile güçlendirilerek davranışları araştırılmıştır. Bu deneynumuneleri depremi benzeştiren tersinir-tekrarlanır yükler altında test edilmiştir. Deney numuneleriTürkiye’deki betonarme yapılarda çoğunlukla gözlemlenen eksiklikleri yansıtacak şekilde üretilmiştir.İlk deney numunesi güçlendirme uygulaması yapılmamış referans numunedir. Diğer numuneler isefarklı pencere boşluk oranlarına ve konumuna sahip betonarme dolgu duvarlı numunelerdir. Yapılandeneylerin sonuçları betonarme dolgu duvarların, dayanım, rijitlik ve enerji tüketme üzerindekietkilerini ortaya koyacak şekilde değerlendirilmiştir. Deney sonuçları, betonarme dolgu duvarlınumunelerin, referans numuneden daha fazla yatay yük dayanımına, enerji tüketimine ve rijitliğe sahipolduğunu göstermiştir.In this experimental study, 1/3 scaled, one-bay/two-storey, six reinforced concrete frames were constructed and tested to investigate the behavior of frames strengthened by introducing infills with or without openings. The test specimens were subjected to reversed cyclic loading simulating the seismic action. The specimens were constructed with the most commonly observed deficiencies in residential reinforced concrete buildings in Turkey. The first specimen was the reference specimen and contained no strengthening. The other specimens were infilled with reinforced concrete panels with openings having different ratios and configurations. Experimental results were evaluated to understand the effect of reinforced concrete infill wall on strength, stiffness and energy dissipation. The experimental results indicated that infilled RC frames shown higher lateral strength, energy dissipation and stiffness than the reference specimen considerably

Ankara Tavukçuluk Araştırma Enstitüsü’nde Yetiştirilen Yumurtacı Saf Tavuk Hatlarında Yumurta Verimi ile İlişkili IGF-I ve NPY Aday Genlerindeki Polimorfizmlerin Belirlenmesi

İnsülin benzeri büyüme faktörü-I (IGF-I) ve nöropeptid Y (NPY) tavuklarda üreme özellikleri ile ilişkili aday genlerdir. Bu çalışmanın amacı Ankara Tavukçuluk Araştırma Enstitüsü’nde yetiştirilen yumurtacı saf hatlarda IGF-I ve NPY genlerindeki polimorfizmlerin PCR-RFLP yöntemi kullanılarak belirlenmesidir. Bu amaçla IGF-I (5' untranslated region) ve NPY genleri için sırasıyla 621 ve 248 bç büyüklüğündeki bantlar çoğaltılmıştır. PCR ürünleri IGF-I ve NPY genleri üzerindeki tek nükleotid polimorfizmlerini (SNP) belirlemek için sırasıyla PstI ve DraI restriksiyon enzimleri ile kesildi. IGF-I geni için Brown ve D-229 dışındaki tüm hatlar polimorfik bulunmuştur. Kahverengi yumurtacı saf hatlarda IGF-I geni için A allelinin frekansı 0,344 (COL) ile 0,906 (RIRII) aralığında değişirken, beyaz yumurtacı saf hatlarda 0,781 (Maroon) ile 1,000 (D-229, Brown) aralığında bulunmuştur. Bu çalışmada NPY geni için tüm kahverengi yumurtacı saf hatlar polimorfik iken, beyaz yumurtacı tavuk hatlarında sadece Maroon hattı monomorfik bulunmuştur. NPY geni için T allelinin frekansı kahverengi yumurtacılarda 0,200 (BARI) ile 0,985 (COL), beyaz yumurtacılarda ise 0,397 (D-229) ile 1,000 (Maroon) aralığında değişmiştir. Uygulanan ki-kare testine (χ2) göre polimorfik populasyonlarda Hardy-Weinberg dengesinden sapma gözlenmemiştir. Sonuç olarak Ankara Tavukçuluk Araştırma Enstitüsü’nde yetiştirilen yumurtacı saf hatlarda IGF-I ve NPY genlerindeki polimorfizmler ilk kez gösterilmiştir

Saf Hat Horoz Spermalarında in vitro ve in vivo Dölveriminin Değerlendirilmesi

&Ouml;z: Bu &ccedil;alışmanın amacı, Kahverengi yumurtacı saf hat horozlarda in vitro spermatolojik paremetreleri ve in vivo d&ouml;lverimini değerlendirmekti.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Araştırmada her saf hattan 7 olmak &uuml;zere 6 saf hattan, 35 haftalık toplam 42 adet kahverengi yumurtacı horoz kullanıldı. Araştırma s&uuml;resince horozlardan haftada iki olmak &uuml;zere &uuml;&ccedil; hafta boyunca toplam altı kez abdominal masaj y&ouml;ntemi ile sperma alındı ve spermalar spermatolojik &ouml;zellikler y&ouml;n&uuml;yle muayene edildi. &nbsp;Spermatolojik &ouml;zelliklerin saptandıktan sonra her horozun ejak&uuml;latı fizyolojik tuzlu su ile (FTS) 1:1 oranında sulandırıldı.&nbsp; Tavukların tohumlanması amacıyla, bir tohumlama dozunda en az 250X106 spermatozoa bulunduracak bi&ccedil;imde 0,1 ml dozunda sulandırılmış sperma kullanıldı.&nbsp; Aynı işlem t&uuml;m horoz ve tavuklar i&ccedil;in g&uuml;n aşırı bir kez daha tekrarlandı ve her hat i&ccedil;in en az 250 tavuk tohumlandı. İkinci tohumlamadan sonraki g&uuml;nden itibaren yumurtalar toplandı. Yedi g&uuml;n sonra t&uuml;m tavuklar sulandırılmış sperma ile tekrar tohumlandı. Her hat i&ccedil;in en az 250 yumurta, 6 hat i&ccedil;in toplamda en az 1500 yumurta fertilite (d&ouml;llenme) ve civciv verimi (kulu&ccedil;ka &ccedil;ıkışı) y&ouml;n&uuml;yle değerlendirildi.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Hatlar arasında ejak&uuml;lat miktarı, spermatozoa yoğunluğu ve anormal spermatozoa oranı y&ouml;n&uuml;yle farklılıklar istatistiki a&ccedil;ıdan &ouml;nemli (P&lt;0.001, P&lt;0.01, P&lt;0.01) olurken, spermatozoa motilitesi, &ouml;l&uuml; spermatozoa oranı ve sperma pH&rsquo;sı y&ouml;n&uuml;yle farklılıklar &ouml;nemsiz (P&gt;0.05) bulundu.&nbsp; D&ouml;ll&uuml; yumurta sayısı ve oranı (fertilite) ve kulu&ccedil;ka &ccedil;ıkışı ve oranı y&ouml;n&uuml;yle gruplar arasında g&ouml;zlenen farklılıklar &ouml;nemli kaydedildi (P&lt;0.001). &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sonu&ccedil; olarak, bu &ccedil;alışma ile 6 kahverengi yumurtacı saf hat horozlarında sperma kalitelerinin iyi ve bu spermalarla elde edilen d&ouml;lverimlerinin normal sınırlar i&ccedil;erisinde olduğu sonucuna varıldı. Anahtar Kelimeler: D&ouml;lverimi, kulu&ccedil;ka &ccedil;ıkışı, k&uuml;mes hayvanı, saf hat horoz, sperma kalitesi

Clinical performance of ASAS health index in patients with ankylosing spondylitis and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis: Real-world evidence from Multicenter Nationwide Registry

The Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society Health Index (ASAS HI) is used as a new instrument in measuring the function, disability and health of patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA). However, the real-world evidence of ASAS HI is very limited. In the present study, our objective is to evaluate the psychometric properties and performance of ASAS HI in the real-world setting as well as comparing ASAS HI with the current instruments to assess the construct validity and determine the cut-off points in patients with both ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA). A total of 991 patients with axSpA who fulfilled either the ASAS classification criteria for axial SpA (axSpA) or the Modified New York Criteria (mNY) for AS were recruited from the Biologic and targeted Synthetic antirheumatic drugs Registry (BioStaR) SpA. The construct validity of ASAS HI against the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activities Index (BASDAI) and Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score-C-Reactive Protein (ASDAS-CRP) the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional index (BASFI) was performed. Using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves analysis, the cut-off points were calculated. Of all the recruited patients, 851 (85.9%) were AS and 140 (14.1%) were nr-axSpA. The difference in the mean ASAS HI scores of the patients with AS and the ones with nr-axSpA were not statistically significant (6.12 +/- 4.29 and 6.42 +/- 4.86, respectively). The mean ASAS HI score was significantly higher in females and small city residents. The ASAS HI had a strong construct validity against ASDAS-CRP, BASDAI and BASFI. A cut-off point of = 12 to discriminate moderate and poor health status. In conclusion, ASAS HI is a reliable instrument to evaluate health and functioning for both patients with AS and nr-axSpA in clinical practice.Turkish League Against Rheumatism (TLAR

Where we are in treat to target era? Predictive factors for remission and drug switching in patients with axial spondyloarthritis: A real-life evidence from BioStaR nationwide registry

Objectives Factors associated with disease activity of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) and switching of biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs have not been clearly defined. We aimed to evaluate clinical characteristics of patients with axSpA, factors related to remission in treat to target era and predictive factors for biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug switching. Method A multicenter, observational cross-sectional study was performed between February 2019 and August 2019. We included all consecutive patients >= 18 years with axSpA. Demographic and clinical variables were prospectively recorded. Clinical tools included Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score with C-reactive protein (ASDAS-CRP), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI), and Maastricht Ankylosing Spondylitis Enthesitis Score (MASES). Results There were 969 patients with a mean age of 43.4 +/- 10.8 years. There were 143 patients (14.8%) with remission and 223 (23.1%) patients with low disease activity. Male sex (p = 0.021), positive family history (p = 0.036), and human leukocyte antigen-B27 (p = 0.011) were predictors of remission by ASDAS-CRP. There were 654 patients (67.5%) who did not switch to another drug. The highest BASMI and MASES scores were calculated in patients with very high disease activity (p < 0.05). In patients with drug switching, the disease duration was significantly higher (p < 0.001) and the age at diagnosis was significantly lower (p = 0.016). There were significantly more patients with uveitis and higher scores of MASES and BASMI in patients who switch to another biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (p = 0 .003, p = 0 .009, and p = 0.004, respectively). Conclusions In patients with axSpA, male sex, younger age, and HLA-B27 positivity are associated with remission, while longer disease duration and accompanied uveitis appear to be related with drug switching