Brand personality and destination image of Istanbul: A comparison across nationalities

This study is intended to measure brand personality and destination image of Istanbul (Istanbul, Turkey) and compare the perceived image and personality across different nationalities. A representative sample of 334 tourists was surveyed while visiting Istanbul and 272 usable surveys were analyzed in SPSS 15. The survey instrument included quantitative and qualitative (open ended) items to better grasp the visitors\u27 individual perceptions. Respondents were grouped into four segments depending on the geographic and cultural proximity of their nationalities: USA, UK, Europe, and East Asia. Factor analysis was conducted to find underlying image and personality dimensions. Next ANOVA was conducted to identify significant image and personality variations across different nationalities. ANOVA findings showed that there are statistically significant perception differences across different nationalities for cognitive and overall image, as well as for personality perception and behavioral intension to recommend. Practical and theoretical implications are also discussed

Design and Performance Analysis of Genetic Algorithms for Topology Control Problems

In this dissertation, we present a bio-inspired decentralized topology control mechanism, called force-based genetic algorithm (FGA), where a genetic algorithm (GA) is run by each autonomous mobile node to achieve a uniform spread of mobile nodes and to provide a fully connected network over an unknown area. We present a formal analysis of FGA in terms of convergence speed, uniformity at area coverage, and Lyapunov stability theorem. This dissertation emphasizes the use of mobile nodes to achieve a uniform distribution over an unknown terrain without a priori information and a central control unit. In contrast, each mobile node running our FGA has to make its own movement direction and speed decisions based on local neighborhood information, such as obstacles and the number of neighbors, without a centralized control unit or global knowledge. We have implemented simulation software in Java and developed four different testbeds to study the effectiveness of different GA-based topology control frameworks for network performance metrics including node density, speed, and the number of generations that GAs run. The stochastic behavior of FGA, like all GA-based approaches, makes it difficult to analyze its convergence speed. We built metrically transitive homogeneous and inhomogeneous Markov chain models to analyze the convergence of our FGA with respect to the communication ranges of mobile nodes and the total number of nodes in the system. The Dobrushin contraction coefficient of ergodicity is used for measuring convergence speed for homogeneous and inhomogeneous Markov chain models of our FGA. Furthermore, convergence characteristic analysis helps us to choose the nearoptimal values for communication range, the number of mobile nodes, and the mean node degree before sending autonomous mobile nodes to any mission. Our analytical and experimental results show that our FGA delivers promising results for uniform mobile node distribution over unknown terrains. Since our FGA adapts to local environment rapidly and does not require global network knowledge, it can be used as a real-time topology controller for commercial and military applications

The effectiveness of various green print advertising strategies for budget and luxury hotel segments

This study aims to broaden knowledge about the effectiveness of the green (environmentally responsible) print advertising in the context of hotel industry. The development of green advertising and relevant studies in general marketing literature is discussed. After the gap of research in hospitality field is highlighted, the current study is introduced. Five by two between subjects experimental design is developed to understand if green advertisements perform better than non-green ones, and whether hotel segment (budget versus luxury) influences the effectiveness. Another goal of the study is to identify the best strategy or medium (text, logos, visual images, or a combination of all) to communicate green messages. Five levels used to manipulate the green status and greening strategy of each advertisement are non-green, green with textual cues, green with certification logos, green with visual cues, and green with combination of text-logos-visual images altogether. Two levels used to manipulate the segment of the hotel are budget versus luxury. The study reveals whether green advertising is more effective in hotel advertising, whether the effectiveness vary by hotel segments. Various strategies of greening an advertisement (using text, logos, visual image or a combination of all) is also tested to understand their comparative effectiveness

Acute Myeloid Leukemia in a Patient with Ovarian Carcinoma

The occurrence of myelodysplastic syndrome or acute myeloid leukemia has been reported after treatment with cytotoxic alkylating agent-based chemotherapy for solid tumors. We report a 50-year-old woman presented with abdominal distension, vomiting, and fatique. The abdominal tomography showed bilaterally ovarian masses and ascite. Surgery was performed and histopathology of the ovarian mass revealed moderately differentiated papillary adenocarcinoma of ovarian. The patient was treated with chemotherapy combination including paclitaxel and carboplatin for six cycles. At 4 years after chemotherapy, recurrence of the primary disease developed. She received carboplatin and paclitaxel. Two years later, complete blood count showed leukocyte count 15.700 /mm3 (15% myeloblasts), hemoglobin 8.7 g/dL, and platelet count 88.000 /mm3. Bone marrow examination and flow cytometry analysis were consistent with acute myeloid leukemia. Standard induction chemotherapy with idarubicin and cytosine arabinoside was administered with failure to achieve complete remission. At the follow-up, the patient died due to prolonged febrile neutropenia. In conclusion, patients who were treated with high dose or long term alkylating agents should particularly follow-up for secondary tumors

A Rare Tumour of the Breast: Carcinosarcoma

Carcinosarcoma of the breast, also known as metaplastic carcinoma, is rare with very few cases reported in the literature. A 46-year old female patient presented with a mass in her left breast. Physical examination, ultrasonography and mammography findings were consistent with malignancy. The mass was totally removed. Histopathological examination revealed carcinosarcoma of the breast. Histologic grade of the tumour was III. Ki67 proliferation index was found 40% positive. Tumour cells were positive for p53 (70% positive), c-erb-B2 (5% positive), pancytokeratin and EMA in carcinomatous areas, and vimentin in sarcomatous areas. There was no metastasis in axillary lymph node and distant metastasis. The patient is receiving chemotherapy and is under follow-up in the 54th month. Along with a review of the literature, we present the information regarding the clinical and histological findings and treatment of the patient who was operated due to breast carcinosarcoma

Effect of Septoplasty on Voice Quality: A Prospective-Controlled Trial

Objectives. The purpose is to investigate effect of septoplasty and widened nasal patency on voice quality. Methods. Fifty patients who undergone septoplasty were included in the study. Thirty-three people who had similar age and distribution were enrolled as control group. Before and 1 and 3 months after surgery, anterior rhinomanometry, voice analysis by Multi-Dimensional Voice Program, and spectrographic analysis were performed to patients. The recordings of /a/ vowel were used to evaluate average fundamental frequency (F0), jitter percent, and shimmer percent. In spectrographic analyses, F3–F4 values for the vowels /i, e, a, o, and u/, nasal formant frequencies of the consonants /m/ and /n/ in the word /mini/, and 4 formant frequencies (F1, F2, F3, and F4) for nasalized /i/ vowel following a nasal consonant /n/ in the word /mini/ were compared. The differences in nasal resonance were evaluated. All patients were asked whether change in their voices after the surgery. Preoperative and postoperative voice parameters and anterior rhinomanometry results were compared separately with the control group as well as in the patient group itself. Results. Preoperative total nasal resistance (TNR) values of patients were higher than the control group (P=0.001). TNR values of patients measured one day before surgery and after surgery in the 1st and 3rd months were different and these differences were significant statistically (P=0.001). There was no significant difference between the voice analysis parameters in preoperative, postoperative 1st, and 3rd months. As a result of their subjective reviews, 12 patients (36%) noted their voices were better than before surgery and 20 patients (61%) noted no change before and after surgery. Conclusion. Providing widened nasal cavity has no effect on voice quality

Efficiency of genetic algorithm and determination of ground state energy of impurity in a spherical quantum dot

In the present work, genetic algorithm method (CA) is applied to the problem of impurity at the center of a spherical quantum dot for infinite confining potential case. For this purpose, any trial variational wave function is considered for the ground state and energy values are calculated. In applying the GA to the problem under investigation, two different approaches were followed. Furthermore, a standard variational procedure is also performed to determine the energy eigenvalues. The results obtained by all methods are found in satisfactory agreement with each other and also with the exact values in literature. But, it is found that the values obtained by genetic algorithm based upon wavefunction optimization are closer to the exact values than standard variational and also than gene-tic algorithm based on parameter optimization methods

Does mean platelet volume influence the attack or attack-free period in the patients with Familial Mediterranean fever?

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an autosomal recessive hereditary disease which is characterized by recurrent attacks of fever and peritonitis, pleuritis, arthritis, or erysipelas-like skin disease. Mean platelet volume (MPV) is a sign of platelet activation. There are limited studies in the literature about MPV levels in FMF patients. We aimed to investigate MPV levels during the attack period (group 1) and attack-free periods (group 2) in FMF patients, and to compare them with healthy controls (group 3). The study consisted of the data of: 60 group 1 patients, 120 group 2 patients, and 75 group 3 patients. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, white blood cell count, platelet count, and MPV levels were retrospectively recorded from patient files. Statistical analyses showed that MPV was significantly lower in FMF patients both in group 1 and group 2 than in group 3 (p = 0.004, p = 0.002, respectively); however, there was no difference among group 1 and group 2 in patients with FMF (p = 0.279). The mean platelet count of group 1 was higher than that of group 3 (p = 0.010). In conclusion, this study results suggested that MPV level did not increase on the contrary, it decreased in patients with FMF both in group 1 and/or group 2 when compared to group 3. It was concluded that the lower MPV level was an expected result of secondary thrombocytosis in FMF patients. Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an autosomal recessive hereditary disease which is characterized by recurrent attacks of fever and peritonitis, pleuritis, arthritis, or erysipelas-like skin disease. Mean platelet volume (MPV) is a sign of platelet activation. There are limited studies in the literature about MPV levels in FMF patients. We aimed to investigate MPV levels during the attack period (group 1) and attack-free periods (group 2) in FMF patients, and to compare them with healthy controls (group 3). The study consisted of the data of: 60 group 1 patients, 120 group 2 patients, and 75 group 3 patients. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, white blood cell count, platelet count, and MPV levels were retrospectively recorded from patient files. Statistical analyses showed that MPV was significantly lower in FMF patients both in group 1 and group 2 than in group 3 (p&thinsp;=&thinsp;0.004, p&thinsp;=&thinsp;0.002, respectively); however, there was no difference among group 1 and group 2 in patients with FMF (p&thinsp;=&thinsp;0.279). The mean platelet count of group 1 was higher than that of group 3 (p&thinsp;=&thinsp;0.010). In conclusion, this study results suggested that MPV level did not increase on the contrary, it decreased in patients with FMF both in group 1 and/or group 2 when compared to group 3. It was concluded that the lower MPV level was an expected result of secondary thrombocytosis in FMF patients. &nbsp;</p