Estimation of Number of Flight Using Particle Swarm Optimization and Artificial Neural Network

The number of flight (NF) is one of the key factors for the administration of the airport to evaluate the apron capacity and airline companies to fix the size of the flight. This paper aims to estimate the monthly NF by performing particle swarm optimization (PSO) and artificial neural network (ANN). Performed PSO-ANN algorithm aims to minimize the proposed evaluation criterion in the training stage. PSO-ANN based on the proposed evaluation criterion offers satisfying fitness values with respect to correlation coefficient and mean absolute percentage error in the training and testing stage

Organizational Justice Perception of Work Performance and Relationship of Work Performance with the Organizational Opposition Level: A Study on Physical Education and Sports Teachers (Istanbul Province Example

The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between the job performance of physical education and sports teachers and their level of organizational justice and opposition. The study group was composed of 575 physical education and teachers of sports who were selected by the simple random method among individuals who worked as physical education and sports teachers in the state schools affiliated to the Istanbul Provincial Directorate of National Education in the 2019-2020 academic year. Data collection methods and tools used in this research; personal information sheet, job performance, organizational justice and organizational opposition scales were implemented. The obtained data were recorded with IBM SPSS 22.0 (version) package program and the all analyzes were accomplished with this statistics program. Descriptive information, subtitles and total scores of the scales were given by determining the frequency (f) and percentage (%) values. Correlation analysis was used as a statistical procedure. As a result, while there was no correlation between physical education and teachers of sport job performance and procedural justice, one of the subtitles of perception of justice, a low level of negative correlation was found between interaction, distributive justice and attitude towards organizational justice total score. Again, no relationship was found between job performance and the total score of vertical and horizontal opposition and organizational opposition which are sub-headings of organizational opposition. This may be due to the fact that administrators do not adequately reward the job performances of physical education and sports teachers due to increasing interest of managers towards teachers who conduct lessons for exams important in terms of students. In addition, it is thought to be caused that physical education and sports teachers do not have any difficulties in expressing themselves due to both their professional competencies and their self-expression and high communication skills that physical education and sports bring them

elastography in primary open-angle glaucoma

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare sonoelastographic findings in the retina-choroid-sclera (RCS) complex and vitreous in glaucomatous and healthy eyes.Methods: For this cross-sectional comparative study, 20 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma and 20 healthy volunteers were recruited. Ultrasound elastography measurements were taken with a sonographic scanner of the RCS complex, anterior vitreous (AV), posterior vitreous (PV), retrobulbar fat tissue (RFT), optic disc (OD) and optic nerve (ON) in each eye.Results: The elasticity index of the RCS complex, RFT, OD, ON, AV and PV was similar in both groups (p > 0.05), although the AV/PV strain ratio in the group of patients with glaucoma was significantly higher (p = 0.04).Conclusion: Glaucoma increases the AV/PV strain ratio. In providing reproducible and consistent values, the real-time elastography (RTE) technique may be helpful in elucidating the mechanisms of glaucoma in some aspects.Advances in knowledge: This study can help to evaluate the elasticity of the RCS complex and vitreous in glaucomatous eyes with RTE

Assessment of optic disc and ganglion cell layer in diabetes mellitus type 2

The purpose of this study was to compare the optic disc parameters, retinal nerve fiber (RNFL), and macular ganglion cell layers between patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) type 2 and healthy controls. In this cross-sectional study, 69 eyes of 69 diabetic patients without diabetic retinopathy and 47 eyes of 47 healthy controls were included. Optic disc parameters (i.e., rim area, disc area, cup to disc ratio, cup volume), RNFL, and macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layers (GCL+IPL) thickness were measured by means of spectral domain optical coherence tomography. There were not statistically significant differences between the diabetic patients and healthy controls in terms of RNFL thickness (P=.32), rim area (P=.20), disc area (P=.16), cup volume (P=.12), and average macular GCL+IPL thickness (P=.11). Nevertheless, binocular RNFL thickness symmetry percentage (P=.03), average cup to disc ratio (P=.02), and superior-nasal macular GCL+IPL thickness (P=.04) were statistically significantly different in the diabetic and control groups. Diabetic patients without retinopathy have more binocular RNFL thickness asymmetry, higher cup to disc ratio, and thinner sectoral macular GCL+IPL when compared to healthy controls. Our results may support the statement that DM causes inner retinal neurodegenerative changes. © 2017 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc

Publication trends in corneal transplantation: a bibliometric analysis

Background: Our aim was to demonstrate the publication trends of corneal transplantation in the last decade. Methods: All of the keratoplasty research articles, letters, case reports, reviews and meeting abstracts published between January 2006 and December 2015 indexed on the Thomson Reuters Web of Knowledge were evaluated. A bibliometric filter was used to capture keratoplasty related publications by using the key words 'keratoplasty', 'corneal transplantation' or 'keratoprosthesis' in the 'title' selection mode. Results: A total of 2726 publications were evaluated in the present study. Documents related to penetrating keratoplasty only have been decreased, whereas the documents related to endothelial keratoplasty were increased in the last decade. The total keratoplasty publication counts had been increased from the year 2006 to 2015. The average citation count per keratoplasty documents was 9.34. Conclusions: There is a growing interest to the lamellar keratoplasty techniques especially the endothelial keratoplasty in the last decade. © 2016 The Author(s)

Effects of some acids, bases and salts on the morphology of polyurethane nanofibres

The polyurethane nanofibres have been prepared by electrospinning and the effects of different types of acids, bases, and salts on nanofibre diameters within the polyurethane solutions are studied. Nanofibre diameters are measured with the SEM and the changes in nanofibre morphology are investigated by considering the electrical conductivity, viscosity, and surface tensions of dopants. Deterioration is observed in the nanofibre morphology in the presence of acid, whereas the nanofibres obtained in the presence of salt are found smoother, longer and thinner. Homogeneous, fine and smooth nanofibres are obtained from salt-doped polyurethane solutions

Posterior pole asymmetry analysis and retinal thickness measurements in young relatives of glaucoma patients

The presence of a family history of glaucoma is a known risk factor for primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) in middle-aged and older individuals. In this study, our aim was to demonstrate possible early glaucomatous alterations in young first- and second-degree relatives of POAG patients by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. A total of 104 participants (52 relatives of POAG patients and 52 healthy individuals) were recruited in this cross-sectional study. All the participants were between 17 years and 45 years of age. All eyes underwent testing with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. Peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, hemifield macular thickness, macular ganglion cell complex thickness, posterior pole asymmetry analysis, and retinal arteriolar caliber measurements were taken for comparison between the study and control groups. The mean peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness was 104.9 ± 8.8 μm in the study group and 105.6 ± 7.4 μm in the control group (p = 0.68). Although whole macular thickness measurements were higher in the control group when compared with the study group (p = 0.008), the macular ganglion cell complex thickness was similar in both groups (p = 0.87). The posterior pole asymmetry analysis revealed no statistically significant difference between the groups in the aspect of consecutive black squares (p = 0.79). The mean retinal arteriolar caliber was 85.9 ± 4.8 μm in the study group and 86.0 ± 5.0 μm in the control group (p = 0.90). In conclusion, young relatives of POAG patients do not show characteristic glaucomatous damage when compared with the controls. © 2015, Kaohsiung Medical University. Published by Elsevier Taiwan LLC. All rights reserved

Effects of some acids, bases and salts on the morphology of polyurethane nanofibres

65-71The polyurethane nanofibres have been prepared by electrospinning and the effects of different types of acids, bases, and salts on nanofibre diameters within the polyurethane solutions are studied. Nanofibre diameters are measured with the SEM and the changes in nanofibre morphology are investigated by considering the electrical conductivity, viscosity, and surface tensions of dopants. Deterioration is observed in the nanofibre morphology in the presence of acid, whereas the nanofibres obtained in the presence of salt are found smoother, longer and thinner. Homogeneous, fine and smooth nanofibres are obtained from salt-doped polyurethane solutions

ARE SCIENCE TEACHERS REALLY AWARE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH?

Teachers are expected to consider the implications of recommendations made in educational research. In-service teachers are primary actors who play a leading role in education, so their attitudes towards educational research and researchers are more important than those of pre-service or trainee teachers. This study aims to find out in-service science teachers’ attitudes towards education research and some the factors that affect them such as gender, teacher’s subject area, seniority, and postgraduate research area. The research data was obtained using a Likert-type scale developed by Ilhan, Şekerci, Sözbilir & Yildirim (2013). The study sample included 108 in-service high school science teachers from Turkey. The results show that in-service science teachers find educational research applicable and necessary but of limited value. Teachers who graduated from education faculties have more positive attitudes towards educational research and teachers who are newly appointed to the profession have a better understanding of the utilities and value of educational research. This study emphasizes and underlines that science teachers’ attitudes towards the value of educational research are under the targeted level. In order to adequately support science teachers and provide them with the intended competencies of their curricula, this study provides some implications for both teachers and researchers in science education.  Article visualizations