Evaluation of laser scanning technology for bridge inspection

In United States, there are almost 600,000 highway bridges. The average life time of these bridges is about 70 years. When bridges reach their mid-life, some damages on structures may occur. The prospective causalities for unproductive bridge inspection can cause serious problems. The main purpose of the bridge inspection is to satisfy the public safety in bridge structural capacity and to protect the public investment. All these emphasize the importance of the accurate and reliable geometric information of the bridges. Geometric data, such as maximum span and minimum vertical clearance are the main parameters of bridge inspection process. All these challenges highlight the importance of terrestrial laser scanner for bridge inspection. Laser scanner is a reliable technology for geometric data collection. Although laser scanners enable surveyors to acquire the data in shorter time, data accuracy should be investigated. The main objectives of proposed study are to investigate and evaluate the accuracy of laser scanners for bridge inspection and to determine the reliability of laser scanners data.The objective of the proposed study was to investigate laser scanner data reliability on bridge inspection projects. Based on laser scanner data, specific bridge component dimensions have been measured and a 3D model of the bridge was created.On the field, the laser scanner was set up on four different locations and captured the bridge substructures data. The office work consisted of registering different point clouds from individual scans together into a single coordinate system. By using registered point cloud, a 3D model of the bridge was created. Afterwards, dimensions of substructure components of the bridge were measured and compared with design drawing data. As a result, error ratio of the compared results is mostly under 1% aside from some irregular conditions at the edges. Comparisons showed that the scanned data is reliable in terms of accuracy. Also data acquisition is faster and data density is much higher than other surveying methods.M.S., Civil Engineering -- Drexel University, 201

Ghrelin Levels and Postnatal Growth in Healthy Infants 0-3 Months of Age

Objective: The effect of ghrelin on growth of the newborn has long been argued, but not fully clarified. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between ghrelin levels and growth parameters in the first 3 months of life

The cost-effectiveness of treating chronic hepatitis B patients in a median endemic and middle income country

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection is a serious public health problem due to its potential liver disease sequelae and highly expensive medical costs such as the need for liver transplantation. The aim of this study was to quantify the burden of active CHB in terms of mortality and morbidity, the eligibility of antiviral treatment and to assess various treatment scenarios and possible salvage combinations for cost-effectiveness.METHODS: A population cohort from a large data base of chronic hepatitis B patients was constructed and stratified according to 10-year age groups, the prevalence of HBsAg, HBV DNA level, ALT level, HBeAg status and the presence of cirrhosis. An age-specific Markov model for disease progression and cost-effectiveness analysis was constructed and calibrated for the specific population setting.RESULTS: Of about 3.2 million estimated HBsAg carriers, 25% are eligible for treatment. If the active cohort remains untreated, 31% will die due to liver related complications. Within a 20-year period, 11% will have developed decompensated cirrhosis, 12% liver cancer and 6% will need liver transplantation. Quality adjusted life years (QALYs) for the no treatment scenario ranged from 9.3 to 14.0. For scenarios with antiviral treatment, QALYs ranged from 9.9 to 14.5 for lamivudine, 13.0-17.5 for salvage therapy, and 16.6-19.0 for the third generation drugs entecavir and tenofovir.CONCLUSION: In a country with considerable amount of active CHB patients, monotherapy with a highly potent third generation drug has the most health-gain, and is cost-effective in both HBeAg-positive and negative in all stages of liver disease.</p

The cost-effectiveness of treating chronic hepatitis B patients in a median endemic and middle income country

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection is a serious public health problem due to its potential liver disease sequelae and highly expensive medical costs such as the need for liver transplantation. The aim of this study was to quantify the burden of active CHB in terms of mortality and morbidity, the eligibility of antiviral treatment and to assess various treatment scenarios and possible salvage combinations for cost-effectiveness.METHODS: A population cohort from a large data base of chronic hepatitis B patients was constructed and stratified according to 10-year age groups, the prevalence of HBsAg, HBV DNA level, ALT level, HBeAg status and the presence of cirrhosis. An age-specific Markov model for disease progression and cost-effectiveness analysis was constructed and calibrated for the specific population setting.RESULTS: Of about 3.2 million estimated HBsAg carriers, 25% are eligible for treatment. If the active cohort remains untreated, 31% will die due to liver related complications. Within a 20-year period, 11% will have developed decompensated cirrhosis, 12% liver cancer and 6% will need liver transplantation. Quality adjusted life years (QALYs) for the no treatment scenario ranged from 9.3 to 14.0. For scenarios with antiviral treatment, QALYs ranged from 9.9 to 14.5 for lamivudine, 13.0-17.5 for salvage therapy, and 16.6-19.0 for the third generation drugs entecavir and tenofovir.CONCLUSION: In a country with considerable amount of active CHB patients, monotherapy with a highly potent third generation drug has the most health-gain, and is cost-effective in both HBeAg-positive and negative in all stages of liver disease.</p

Evaluation of the rate of thrombocytosis in lower respiratory tract and upper urinary system ınfections

Alt solunum yolu enfeksiyonları ve üst üriner sistem enfeksiyonlarında trombositoz oranlarının çıkarılması ve degerlendirilmesi amaçlanmıstır. Bu çalısmada “GATAHaydarpasa Egitim Hastanesi Çocuk Klinigi'nde” 1 Ocak 2006- 1 Ocak 2009 yılları arasında yatırılarak tedavi verilen 20 alt solunum yolu enfeksiyonu (ASYE) ve 22 üst üriner sistem enfeksiyonu (ÜÜSE) tanısı alan hastanın dosyaları retrospektif olarak incelendi. Reaktif trombositoz, genel olarak kabul gören trombosit sayısının 500.000/mm üzeri olması kabul edildi. Istatistiksel veriler SPSS 13.0 ile degerlendirildi. Çalısmamızda trombositoz tanı anında üst üriner sistem enfeksiyonlarında daha fazla bulundu (ASYE %25, ÜÜSE %36). Üst üriner sistem enfeksiyonlarında en sık üreyen mikroorganizma Escherichia coli (n:12 %54) olarak tespit edildi. Çalısmamızda, alt solunum yolu enfeksiyonu ve üst üriner sistem enfeksiyonunda tanı anında görülen reaktif trombositoz ile hastalık siddeti karsılastırılmıs, arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir iliski bulunamamıstır.To evaluate the rates of thrombocytosis in lower respiratory tract (LRTI) and upper urinary system infections (UUSI). In this study, rates of thrombocytosis were evaluated in patients hospitalized and treated with the diagnosis of LRTI (n=20) or UUSI (n=22) in “GATA Haydarpasa Teaching Hospital, Department of Pediatrics” between 2006-2009, retrospectively. Reactive thrombocytosis is defined as the platelet count over 500.000/mm . Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS forWindows version 13.0. p'0.05 was accepted as statistically significant. Thrombocytosis was found to be higher in the UUSI (%36) at the time of the diagnosis compared to the LRTI group (25%). The most common microorganism identified in the UUSI was Escherichia coli (n=12, 54%). There was no significant relationship between the reactive thrombocytosis observed at the time of the diagnosis and the severity of the disease in theLRTI and the UUSI

Effects of Supplemental Mannanoligosaccharides on Growth Performance, Faecal Characteristics and Health in Dairy Calves

Twenty Holstein calves were used to investigate the effects of mannanoligosaccharides (MOS) supplementation in the whole milk on growth performance, faecal score, faecal pH, selected faecal bacterial populations and health during the preweaning period. Healthy calves selected by clinical examination were allocated to one of the two groups (control [CG] and experimental [EG]) at 5 days old. Each group consisted of 5 male and 5 female calves. Each calf in EG was supplemented with 7 g/d of a MOS product (Celmanax) from 5 days to 56 days of age. MOS supplement was mixed with the whole milk once in the morning and administered to the calves in EG via nipple bottle, whereas the calves in CG were fed the whole milk without MOS. Calves were weaned at 56 days of age. The final body weight, average daily weight gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) were statistically similar (p>0.05) but were higher by 3.70%, 6.66%, and 10.97%, respectively, in MOS than in control calves. Feed efficiency (ADG/ADFI) was also similar in two calves group. While faecal scores did not differ on day 5, 7, 14, 21, 28, 42, 49, and 56 between groups, EG had a higher faecal score (p = 0.05) than CG on day 35. Faecal concentration of Lactobacillus was lower (p0.05) in faecal concentrations of Bifidobacterium, Clostridium perfringens, and Escherichia coli were found between groups. Although there were no significant differences (p>0.05) in the incidence of diarrhoea, treatment days for diarrhoea and the costs associated with diarrhoea treatments between groups, collectively, the observed reductions in treatment days and the cost of diarrhoea treatments accompanying increases in final body weight, ADG and ADFI for EG may indicate potential benefit of MOS in treatment of diarrhoea

Effect of window-to-wall-area ratio on thermal performance of building wall materials in Elazığ, Turkey.

In this study, the effect of glazing-to-total-wall-area ratio on the thermal performance of different wall materials is numerically investigated in terms of heat transmission load. The investigation was performed for a South-facing wall in Elazığ, Turkey. The heat transmission load through walls and windows are determined separately for summer and winter climate conditions. In this analysis, the frame area of the window is not considered. Therefore, whereas the glazing area on uninsulated and insulated walls is increased from 0% to 100%, the heat gain and losses are calculated separately according to the glazing type. The transmission loads through the wall are determined by an implicit finite difference procedure under steady periodic conditions. Concrete, briquettes, bricks, and autoclaved aerated concrete are selected as structure materials. Results show that in the uninsulated wall, the wall material affected the glazing area, whereas in the insulated wall, the effect of wall material on glazing area is insignificant

Development of visual-spatial ability test (VSAT) for primary school children: ıts reliability and validity

The purpose of the present research is to develop a visual-spatial ability test (VSAT) for primary school children. Visual-spatial abilities allow processing of information about an object in terms of shape, colour, texture, perspective, and rotation. The visual-spatial test includes items-tasks for the participants to process information about texture, colour, shape and perspective. A total of 196 primary school children participated in the research. The data were analysed through Rasch analysis and item-response theory. Findings proved that VSAT yields reliable and valid results for assessing the visual-spatial ability of primary school children

New scaling of theory of mind tasks: Where can the intentional aspect be scaled?

The purpose of the research is to develop a new theory of mind tasks, test its reliability and validity, and scale the intentional aspect of theory of mind. The study was designed as survey research, one of the quantitative research traditions. One hundred and fifty-eight children whose age ranged between 4 and 10 years were included in the research sample through quota sampling. Data were dichotomous so Rasch analysis was used to analyse the data. As result of Rasch analysis, it was found that the separation index is 7; reliability coefficient is 98; and the battery of the theory of mind task has robust model fit based on RMSE, infit mean-square and outfit mean-square. Difficulty analysis indicated that false belief tasks and real vs. disclosed intention are the hardest tasks, while diverse desires, implicit false beliefs, and diverse beliefs are the easiest tasks in the battery

Frequency of Developmental Hip Dysplasia in a Training Hospital

Aim: We aimed to determine the frequency of cases with developmental hip dysplasia during the neonatal period and the associated risk factors. Methods: Hip ultrasound images of 258 full-term newborns aged one month were evaluated prospectively in conjunction with physical examination for developmental hip dysplasia in GATA well baby outpatient clinic. Results: The incidence of developmental hip dysplasia was 0.3% in one-month-old, healthy, full-term babies included in the study. 44% of them were male and 56% were female. The mean birth weight was 3311.8±511.4 g. 48% of all births were spontaneous vaginal deliveries and 52% cesarean deliveries. A history of oligohydramniosis was present in 8% of cases, 1% had breech presentation, 7% had a family history of developmental dysplasia and 7% had been swaddled. Additional congenital anomaly and torticollis were not detected at the physical examination of the babies. The risk factors were determined to be twin birth and female gender in the only baby who had developmental hip dysplasia (Type 2a). Conclusion: Developmental hip displasia is a significant public health concern in developing countries. Physical examination performed in conjunction with hip ultrasonography routinely in the neonatal period may contribute to the early diagnosis and treatment. (The Medical Bulletin of Haseki 2010; 48: 99-102