THE EFFECT OF MEMBER GROUPING ON THE OPTIMUM DESIGN OF GRILLAGES VIA SEARCH TECHNIQUES

Member grouping of a steel grillage system has an important effect in the minimum weight design of these systems. In the present research, this effect is investigated using an optimum design algorithm which is based on two stochastic search techniques called particle swarm (PSO) and harmony search (HS) optimization methods. The optimum design problem of a grillage system is formulated by implementing LRFD-AISC (Load and Resistance Factor Design-American Institute of Steel Construction) limitations. It is decided that W-Sections are to be adapted for the longitudinal and transverse beams of the grillage system. 272 W-Section beams given in LRFD code are collected in a pool and the optimum design algorithm is expected to select the appropriate sections from this pool so that the weight of the grillage is the minimum correspondingly the design limitations implemented from the design code are satisfied. The solution for this discrete programming problem is determined by using the PSO and HS algorithms. Design example is presented to demonstrate the effect of beam spacing and performances of stochastic search techniques in the optimum design of grillage systems

Evaluation of macular choroidal and microvascular network changes by activity scores and serum antibodies in thyroid eye patients and healthy subjects

AIM: To investigate the choroidal thickness and the microvascular network changes around the macula in thyroid eye disease (TED) patients at different stages and the relationship of those changes with risk factors, serum antibodies and the severity of TED. METHODS: A total of 85 participants were enrolled. All participants underwent ophthalmology and endocrinology examinations. Subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT), superficial (s) and deep (d) foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area, mean (m) and central (c) superficial vascular density (SVD), deep vascular density (DVD) measurements of the enrolled cases were performed with Topcon swept source optical coherence tomography (OCT)/OCT angiography (OCTA) DRI OCT Triton. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to explore the associations between SFCT, FAZ area, SVD, DVD and the relevant factors of TED. RESULTS: Those with active TED patients had higher c-DVD and m-DVD levels (P<0.05), however there is no statistically significant difference in SFCT between active and stable TED patients. Among the serum antibodies, it was observed that s-FAZ and d-FAZ increased, c-SVD and m-SVD decreased in patients with high thyroid stimulating hormone-receptor autoantibodies (TRAB) level, whereas SFCT thickened in patients with high levels of both TRAB and human thyroglobulin (hTG). There was no significant difference in SFCT, FAZ, SVD and DVD measurement at gender, between hyperthyroid and euthyroid patients and among those with or without thyroid papillary carcinoma. CONCLUSION: The results show that both disease activation and serum antibodies differentially affect both superficial and deep retinal vascular density. It has also been shown that high serum antibody levels affect choroidal thickness independent of clinical activity

Fetal Circulatory Variation in an Acute Incident Causing Bradycardia

Umbilical artery\vein, middle cerebral artery, and ductus venosus Doppler velocimetry were performed at 33 weeks of gestation in the settings of an intrauterine growth restricted fetus during a heart rate deceleration. Interestingly, we recorded a sudden onset redistribution of fetal blood flow with fetal bradycardia. Spontaneous normalization of waveforms was observed once fetal heart rate returned to normal. Our case provides evidence to circulatory variation of a human fetus resulting from an acute incident causing bradycardia

Comparison of the efficacy of once- and twice-daily colchicine dosage in pediatric patients with familial Mediterranean fever - a randomized controlled noninferiority trial

Background: In this study, we examined the efficacy and safety of a once-daily dosage schema of colchicine compared with a twice-daily dosage schema in pediatric patients with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF). Methods: In this 24-week, multicenter, randomized controlled noninferiority trial, pediatric patients newly diagnosed with FMF carrying a homozygous or compound heterozygous mutation and not receiving any treatment were included. Patients were randomly assigned using a block randomization method to receive treatment with a once- or twice-daily dosage. Clinical and laboratory characteristics and medication side effects were recorded and compared between groups. The study was carried out in compliance with Good Clinical Practice and the Consolidated Standards for Reporting of Trials (CONSORT) statement. Results: A total of 92 patients were selected, and 79 patients completed the study. There were 42 patients in the once-daily dosage group and 37 in the twice-daily dosage group. The results indicated that the once-daily dosage was not inferior to the twice-daily dosage regarding decrease in attack frequency and duration as well as improvement in clinical findings and Mor severity scores. Alterations in laboratory findings indicating inflammation, such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, and serum amyloid A, were similar in both groups. The rates of drug side effects were similar between the once- and twice-daily dosage groups, implying comparable safety of colchicine, with the exception of diarrhea, which was slightly higher in the once-daily dosage group. Conclusions: Using colchicine with either a once- or twice-daily dosage provides similar clinical and laboratory improvements. Considering both efficacy and safety, colchicine can be prescribed with a once-daily dosage. Trial Registration ID: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT02602028. Registered 5 November 2015

Volume CXIV, Number 4, November 7, 1996

Objective: Turner syndrome (TS) is a chromosomal disorder caused by complete or partial X chromosome monosomy that manifests various clinical features depending on the karyotype and on the genetic background of affected girls. This study aimed to systematically investigate the key clinical features of TS in relationship to karyotype in a large pediatric Turkish patient population.Methods: Our retrospective study included 842 karyotype-proven TS patients aged 0-18 years who were evaluated in 35 different centers in Turkey in the years 2013-2014.Results: The most common karyotype was 45,X (50.7%), followed by 45,X/46,XX (10.8%), 46,X,i(Xq) (10.1%) and 45,X/46,X,i(Xq) (9.5%). Mean age at diagnosis was 10.2±4.4 years. The most common presenting complaints were short stature and delayed puberty. Among patients diagnosed before age one year, the ratio of karyotype 45,X was significantly higher than that of other karyotype groups. Cardiac defects (bicuspid aortic valve, coarctation of the aorta and aortic stenosis) were the most common congenital anomalies, occurring in 25% of the TS cases. This was followed by urinary system anomalies (horseshoe kidney, double collector duct system and renal rotation) detected in 16.3%. Hashimoto's thyroiditis was found in 11.1% of patients, gastrointestinal abnormalities in 8.9%, ear nose and throat problems in 22.6%, dermatologic problems in 21.8% and osteoporosis in 15.3%. Learning difficulties and/or psychosocial problems were encountered in 39.1%. Insulin resistance and impaired fasting glucose were detected in 3.4% and 2.2%, respectively. Dyslipidemia prevalence was 11.4%.Conclusion: This comprehensive study systematically evaluated the largest group of karyotype-proven TS girls to date. The karyotype distribution, congenital anomaly and comorbidity profile closely parallel that from other countries and support the need for close medical surveillance of these complex patients throughout their lifespa

Synthetic Transformer Design Using Commercially Available Active Components

In this study, a novel synthetic transformer (ST), namely mutually coupled circuit, using commercially available active components such as current feedback operational amplifiers (CFOAs) is proposed. The proposed ST uses four CFOAs, two grounded capacitors and five resistors. It possesses only resistors but no capacitors attached in series to W/X terminals of the CFOAs; consequently, its high-frequency performance is well. Nevertheless, it needs a single matching condition for symmetrical coupling. As an application example, a double-tuned band-pass filter is given. The validity of the proposed circuit is demonstrated through several SPICE simulations and experiments

CFOA-based first-order voltage-mode universal filters

© 2023 Elsevier GmbHIn this paper, two new CFOA-based first-order voltage-mode universal filters are proposed. Both of the filters use an additional unity gain-inverting amplifier. The first proposed filter employs a minimum number of passive elements, while the second one includes one capacitor and two grounded resistors. The proposed filters can give universal filter responses with the selection of their relevant inputs. Both of the proposed filters enjoy the low output and high input impedances. Two quadrature oscillator circuits derived from the proposed filters are also considered as application examples. In order to see the performance of the circuits, many simulations are carried out via the SPICE program. Also, some experiments for the first proposed filter are done by using AD844s

Deep eutectic solvent based liquid phase microextraction of nickel at trace level as its diethyldithiocarbamate chelate from environmental samples

A new and green deep eutectic solvent based liquid phase microextraction procedure (DES-LPME) has been developed for separation and preconcentration of nickel prior to micro-sampling flame atomic absorption spectrometric determination (MS-FAAS). Ni(II) was complexed with sodium diethyldithiocarbamate (NaDDTC) and was extracted to micro-volume DES phase. In this regard, tetra butyl ammonium chloride-decanoic acid component as 1:3 molar ratios was used to prepare DES. Analytical parameters such as pH of sample solution, sample volume, volume of DES and matrix effect that would affect the recoveries of nickel(II) were optimized. Quantitative recovery values for Ni(II) ions were obtained at pH 3.0. The preconcentration factor (PF) was calculated as 60. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were determined to be as 0.13 mu g L-1 and 0.43 mu g L-1 respectively. The relative standard deviation (% RSD) was 3.2%. The validation of the developed method was proved by the analysis of the certified water reference materials and addition-recovery test. The presented deep eutectic solvent based liquid phase microextraction method (DES-LPME) was successfully applied for determination of nickel in some water and food samples from Turkey