Experimental Assessment of Linear Sampling and Factorization Methods for Microwave Imaging of Concealed Targets

Shape reconstruction methods are particularly well suited for imaging of concealed targets. Yet, these methods are rarely employed in real nondestructive testing applications, since they generally require the electrical parameters of outer object as a priori knowledge. In this regard, we propose an approach to relieve two well known shape reconstruction algorithms, which are the linear sampling and the factorization methods, from the requirement of the a priori knowledge on electrical parameters of the surrounding medium. The idea behind this paper is that if a measurement of the reference medium (a medium which can approximate the material, except the inclusion) can be supplied to these methods, reconstructions with very high qualities can be obtained even when there is no information about the electrical parameters of the surrounding medium. Taking the advantage of this idea, we consider that it is possible to use shape reconstruction methods in buried object detection. To this end, we perform several experiments inside an anechoic chamber to verify the approach against real measurements. Accuracy and stability of the obtained results show that both the linear sampling and the factorization methods can be quite useful for various buried obstacle imaging problems

Turner syndrome and associated problems in turkish children: A multicenter study

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 stenosi) 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 lifespan. © Journal of Clinical Research in Pediatric Endocrinology

Prevalence of common mental disorders among Syrian refugee children and adolescents in Sultanbeyli district, Istanbul: results of a population-based survey.

AIMS: Research demonstrates elevated levels of common mental disorders among Syrian refugees, but the majority of studies have, to date, focused on adult populations. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among Syrian children and adolescents living in Sultanbeyli district of Istanbul, Turkey. METHODS: A population-based survey among Syrian children and adolescents aged 8-17 years living in Sultanbeyli district was conducted in 2019, as part of an all-age survey of disability. 80 clusters of 50 participants (all-ages) were selected from the local municipality's refugee registration database using probability proportionate to size sampling. Children aged 8-17 years were assessed for symptoms of common mental disorders using the Child Revised Impact of Event Scale (CRIES-8) and abbreviated versions of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale for Children (CES-DC) and the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders (SCARED). RESULTS: Of the 852 participants, 23.7% (95% CI 19.9-27.2) screened positive for symptomatic depression, PTSD and anxiety. The prevalence estimates for depression, PTSD and anxiety were 12.5% (95% CI 9.8-15.6), 11.5% (95% CI 9.1-14.4) and 9.2% (95% CI 6.8-12.1), respectively. Depression and PTSD were significantly more common in older adolescents, whilst anxiety and PTSD were significantly more common in girls. Depression was more common in children from poorer households and those who had received no education. Children coming from larger households were less likely to show symptoms of PTSD. CONCLUSIONS: Syrian refugee children and adolescents are vulnerable to common mental disorders, and culturally appropriate prevention and intervention support are needed for this population

Does the unification of health financing affect the distribution pattern of out‐of‐pocket health expenses in Turkey?

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/149529/1/ijsw12389_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/149529/2/ijsw12389.pd

Polıklınığımıze başvuran antenatal hıdronefroz tanili çocuklarin takıp sonuçlari; patolojık hıdronefrozun önemı ve ağir derece antenatal hıdronefrozun prognoza etkısı

Antenatal hydronephrosis is the most common renal abnormalities detected during pregnancy and the extensive use of ultrasonography during pregnancy has resulted in a greater detection rate for antenatal hydronephrosis. The objective of our study is to investigate etiology of patients that were diagnosed antenatal hydronephrosis, to emphasize the significance of pathological hydronephrosis, to investigate the relationship between hydronephrosis scores and urinary system anomalies and contribute to the literature. Patients, admitted to pediatric nephrology polyclinic between October 2008 and February 2013, were investigated retrospectively; 85 patients and 124 kidneys were taken into study. The majority of patients were boys. 36.5% of the patients were first diagnosed on 2nd trimester, and 63.5 % were first diagnosed on the 3rd trimester. 73.9% of the patients had antenatal hydronephrosis on their left kidney. Urinary infection rate in all the patients was 18.8%, and it was significantly high in patients with pathologic hydronephrosis. Detection of pathologic hydronephrosis by ultrasonography was significantly higher in patients with severe hydronephrosis. During their follow-up 12.9% of the patients underwent surgery. Surgery rate was significantly higher in patients with pathologic hydronephrosis. The majority of patients with antenatal hydronephrosis are found to have nonpathological hydronephrosis in their follow-up. Diagnosing severe and pathologic hydronephrosis is important for follow-up and treatment strategies. © 2016 Düzce Medical Journal

Evaluation of genotoxicity and cytotoxicity of dodine (1-dodecylguanidium acetate) by Allium test

In this study, we evaluated the genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of dodine, a fungicide extensively used to control scab on apples, pears and pecans, brown rot on peaches and several foliar diseases of cherries, strawberries, peaches and black walnuts. For this purpose the Allium cepa test was carried out exposing roots to dodine for 24,48 and 72 h at the concentrations of EC50/2, EC50 and 2×EC50. The mitotic index was calculated as the number of dividing cells per number of 3000-4000 observed cells and the mitotic aberrations also were scored at each concentration. The results showed that dodine induced significant increases of mitotic aberrations such as C-mitosis, polar shifting, laggard chromosome and chromosome fragments. In addition, mitotic index decreased significantly with increasing of concentration and the exposure time as compared to their controls. Hence dodine should be used under control in agricultural fields due to its possible toxic effects. © by PSP

Assessment of the genetic stability of indirect shoot organogenesis-derived plantlets of digitalis trojana ivanina by flow cytometry and cytological analyses

In this study, flow cytometry and cytological analysis was used to evaluate the genetic stability of Digitalis trojana Ivanina plants regenerated via indirect shoot organogenesis. For in vitro propagation, leaf explants were excised from seedlings grown in sterile conditions and cultured MS medium supplemented with 3.0 mg/L BA + 0.1 mg/L NAA. Shoots and calli were subcultured for a period of 2 weeks for shoot multiplication. For rooting, shoots were separated individually and transferred to MS medium containing 0.1% activated charcoal. Genetic stability of the regenerated plants was assessed by flow cytometry and cytological analyses. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that regenerated plantlets has as 2.80±0.03 pg nuclear DNA (2C) and seed-derived plants has on average 2.80±0.1 pg/2C. Cytological analysis showed that regenerated plantlets have the same number of chromosome with seed-derived plantlets of D. trojana (2n=56). Our results have showed that the plantlets propagated in MS medium with 3 mg/L BA + 0.1 mg/L NAA did not differ genetically from donor plants. Therefore, this system can be effective and suitable for clonal propagation of D. trojana. Our results also confirmed that flow cytometry is fast, easy, accurate and relatively cheap method to determine ploidy of in vitro propagated D. trojana plantlets. © 2017 Namik Kemal University - Agricultural Faculty. All Rights Reserved