Modeling Marshall stability of lightweight asphalt concretes fabricated using expanded clay aggregate with anfis

In this study, an Adaptive Neural Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) model for predicting the Marshall Stability (MS) of lightweight asphalt concrete containing expanded clay (EC) and has various mix proportions has been developed. Experimental details were used to construct the model. The amount of bitumen (%), transition speed of ultrasound (μs) and unit weight (gr/cm3) were used as input variables and Marshall Stability (kg) values were used as output variables. Statistical equations were used to evaluate the Developed ANFIS model. Results showed that developed ANFIS model has strong potential to predict Marshall Stability of asphalt concrete using related inputs in a short time. Also the Marshall Stability of asphalt concrete containing expanded clay and has various mix proportions can be found without performing any experiments

Determining amount of bituminous effects on asphalt concrete strength with artificial intelligence and statistical analysis methods

TUBITAK; IEEE2011 International Symposium on INnovations in Intelligent SysTems and Applications, INISTA 2011 -- 15 June 2011 through 18 June 2011 -- Istanbul-Kadikoy -- 85879In this study, an experimental study has been conducted to determine compressive strength of asphalt concrete. The scope of study by preparing 45 Marshall samples Marshall stability experiment was conducted and compressive strength of asphalt concrete was determined. Compressive strength of asphalt concrete as depending on bituminous amount prediction models were developed by using obtained experiment results. Compressive strength of asphalt concrete values as depending on bituminous amount have been estimated on prediction models developed with regression analyses and Artificial Neural Network (ANN) Methods. Results obtained from models were compared with experiment results. Prediction performances of developed models were evaluated as compared. As a result it was determined that possible to estimate the compressive strength of asphalt concrete as depending on bituminous amount with developed ANN model and that ANN model was more successful than regression model for estimating the compressive strength of asphalt concrete. © 2011 IEEE

Evaluation of rice husk ash as filler in hot mix asphalt concrete

terzi, serdal/0000-0002-4776-824X; Karahancer, Sebnem/0000-0001-7734-2365; Saltan, Mehmet/0000-0001-6221-4918WOS: 000327561200047In the study, it was investigated to use the rice husk ash (RHA) in the hot mix asphalt as mineral filler. For this purpose, four different serial asphalt concrete samples were produced using limestone (LS) in different proportions (4%, 5%, 6%, and 7%) as mineral filler. The amount of optimum bitumen and the value of Marshall Stability (MS) were determined with MS test for the samples. Choosing the series of asphalt having 5% filler which has given the highest stability RHA was changed with LS filler in the rate of 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%. After that MS test was conducted on the produced samples and the results were evaluated. As a result, it has come in view that RHA can be used as mineral filler in the asphalt concrete. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Modeling Marshall stability of light asphalt concretes fabricated using expanded clay aggregate with artificial neural networks

International Symposium on INnovations in Intelligent SysTems and Applications, INISTA 2012 -- 2 July 2012 through 4 July 2012 -- Trabzon -- 92831In this study, an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model has been developed to estimate Marshall Stability (MS) of lightweight asphalt concrete containing expanded clay. In the model, amount of bitumen (%), transition speed of ultrasound (?s), unit weight (gr/cm 3) were used as inputs and Marshall Stability (kg) was used as output. Developed ANN model results and the experimental results were compared and good relationship was found. © 2012 IEEE

Utility of polyparaphenylene terephtalamide fiber in hot mix asphalt as a fiber

Eriskin, Ekinhan/0000-0002-0087-0933; Eriskin, Ekinhan/0000-0002-0087-0933; Saltan, Mehmet/0000-0001-6221-4918; Karahancer, Sebnem/0000-0001-7734-2365; terzi, serdal/0000-0002-4776-824XWOS: 000370308000009In this study, utility of polyparaphenylene terephtalamide (PT) was investigated in hot mix asphalt as a fiber. For this aim samples were prepared with limestone aggregate at different proportions. Marshall Stability test was applied and optimum bitumen content was determined. In the second stage of the study, new samples were prepared using different polyparaphenylene terephtalamide fiber (PTF) rates of 0.25%, 0.50%, 0.75%, 1.00%, 1.50%, 2.00% based on optimum bitumen content. When examining test results, samples which prepared using 0.25% PTF rate gave highest Marshall Stability result. At the final stage of the study, different bitumen contents (4.15%, 4.65% and 5.15%) were conducted for the best fiber rate (0.25%) and close to this result (0.50% and 0.75%). Thus, the effect of bitumen content on determined fiber rate at the second stage of the study was investigated. Also Indirect Tensile (IDT) Strength Test was performed on hot mix asphalt (HMA) samples preparing at 0.25%, 0.50% and 0.75% fiber rates and moisture sensitivities were determined. All results showed that, the best fiber rate was 0.25% and determined optimum bitumen content remain constant with the fiber additive for the reference samples. Besides, some sample groups which prepared using different PTF rates proved the specification limits and it was said that; PTF can be used in asphalt concrete as a fiber additive. (c) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Impact of antimicrobial drug restrictions on doctors' behaviors

Background/aim: Broad-spectrum antibiotics have become available for use only with the approval of infectious disease specialists (IDSs) since 2003 in Turkey. This study aimed to analyze the tendencies of doctors who are not disease specialists (non-IDSs) towards the restriction of antibiotics. Materials and methods: A questionnaire form was prepared, which included a total of 22 questions about the impact of antibiotic restriction (AR) policy, the role of IDSs in the restriction, and the perception of this change in antibiotic consumption. The questionnaire was completed by each participating physician. Results: A total of 1906 specialists from 20 cities in Turkey participated in the study. Of those who participated, 1271 (67.5%) had ≤5 years of occupational experience (junior specialists = JSs) and 942 (49.4%) of them were physicians. Specialists having >5 years of occupational experience in their branch expressed that they followed the antibiotic guidelines more strictly than the JSs (P < 0.05) and 755 of physicians (88%) and 720 of surgeons (84.6%) thought that the AR policy was necessary and useful (P < 0.05). Conclusion: This study indicated that the AR policy was supported by most of the specialists. Physicians supported this restriction policy more so than surgeons did.Background/aim: Broad-spectrum antibiotics have become available for use only with the approval of infectious disease specialists (IDSs) since 2003 in Turkey. This study aimed to analyze the tendencies of doctors who are not disease specialists (non-IDSs) towards the restriction of antibiotics. Materials and methods: A questionnaire form was prepared, which included a total of 22 questions about the impact of antibiotic restriction (AR) policy, the role of IDSs in the restriction, and the perception of this change in antibiotic consumption. The questionnaire was completed by each participating physician. Results: A total of 1906 specialists from 20 cities in Turkey participated in the study. Of those who participated, 1271 (67.5%) had ≤5 years of occupational experience (junior specialists = JSs) and 942 (49.4%) of them were physicians. Specialists having >5 years of occupational experience in their branch expressed that they followed the antibiotic guidelines more strictly than the JSs (P < 0.05) and 755 of physicians (88%) and 720 of surgeons (84.6%) thought that the AR policy was necessary and useful (P < 0.05). Conclusion: This study indicated that the AR policy was supported by most of the specialists. Physicians supported this restriction policy more so than surgeons did

Clinical characteristics, disease activity, functional status, and quality of life results of patients with psoriatic arthritis using biological and conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs

Objectives: This study aims to compare the clinical characteristics, disease activity, and quality of life (QoL) of patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) who use biological and conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in a nationwide cohort throughout Turkey. Patients and methods: A total of 961 patients (346 males, 615 females; mean age: 46.9±12.2 years; range, 18 to 81 years) with PsA according to the classification criteria for PsA were included in the study. The patients’ demographic and clinical characteristics, physical examination results, Disease Activity Score 28, Disease Activity Index for Psoriatic Arthritis and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Psoriasis Area and Severity Index, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Health Assessment Questionnaire, Psoriatic Arthritis Quality of Life (PsAQoL), and Short Form-36 scores were all recorded. Results: Of the patients, 23% underwent biological DMARD (bDMARD) monotherapy, 42% underwent conventional synthetic DMARD (csDMARD) monotherapy, 10% underwent a csDMARD combination therapy, and 10% underwent a combination bDMARD and csDMARD treatment. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS pain), patient global assessment, physician global assessment, and BASDAI scores were found to be lower among patients using combination treatment of csDMARD and bDMARD, while the swollen joint count was found to be lower among patients using bDMARD. The PsAQoL score was found to be the lowest among patients not using any medication and the highest among those using bDMARD. Conclusion: In our study, patients with PsA were successfully treated with both csDMARD and bDMARD monotherapy. When the biological treatments used for PsA were compared with csDMARD, it was found that biological treatments had a positive effect on both disease activity and the QoL. Combinations of csDMARDs and bDMARDs were preferred in cases in which the disease activity was still high or increased. Because of the highest efficacy of the combined treatment, we highly suggest increasing the number of patients on combined treatment

The impact of fatigue on patients with psoriatic arthritis: A multi-center study of the TLAR-network

Fatigue is a substantial problem in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) that needs to be considered in the core set of domains. This study aimed to evaluate fatigue and its relationship with disease parameters, functional disability, anxiety, depression, quality of life, and correlation with disease activity as determined by various scales. A total of 1028 patients (677 females, 351 males) with PsA who met the CASPAR criteria were included [Turkish League Against Rheumatism (TLAR) Network multicenter study]. The demographic features and clinical conditions of the patients were recorded. Correlations between fatigue score and clinical parameters were evaluated using the Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS28), Disease Activity in Psoriatic Arthritis (DAPSA), Clinical DAPSA (cDAPSA), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), the Fibromyalgia Rapid Screening Tool (FiRST), minimal disease activity (MDA), and very low disease activity (VLDA). Fatigue was assessed with the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT-F) and a 10-point VAS (VAS-F). The mean age of the patients was 47 (SD: 12.2) years, and the mean disease duration was 6.4 (SD: 7.3) years. The mean VAS-F score was 5.1 (SD: 2.7), with fatigue being absent or mild, moderate, and severe in 12.8%, 24.6%, and 62.5% of the patients, respectively. Fatigue scores were significantly better in patients with DAS28 remission, DAPSA remission, cDAPSA remission, MDA, and VLDA (p < 0.001). Fatigue scores significantly increased with increasing disease activity levels on the DAS28, DAPSA, and cDAPSA (p < 0.001). VAS-F scores showed correlations with the scores of the BASDAI, BASFI, PsAQoL, HAD-A, FiRST, pain VAS, and PtGA. FiRST scores showed fibromyalgia in 255 (24.8%) patients. FACIT-F and VAS-F scores were significantly higher in patients with fibromyalgia (p < 0.001). In regression analysis, VLDA, BASDAI score, FiRST score, high education level, HAD-Anxiety, and BMI showed independent associations with fatigue. Our findings showed that fatigue was a common symptom in PsA and disease activity was the most substantial predictor, with fatigue being less in patients in remission, MDA, and VLDA. Other correlates of fatigue were female gender, educational level, anxiety, quality of life, function, pain, and fibromyalgia

Enthesitis and its relationship with disease activity, functional status, and quality of life in psoriatic arthritis: A multi-center study

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an inflammatory arthritis with distinct phenotypic subtypes. Enthesitis is assigned as a hallmark of the disease, given its significant relations to disease activity and quality of life. Our objective is to evaluate the prevalence of enthesitis and its association with some clinical parameters, particularly quality of life, using data from a national registry. Patients with PsA meeting ClASsification criteria for Psoriatic Arthritis (CASPAR) were enrolled by means of a multi-centre Turkish League Against Rheumatism (TLAR) Network Project. The following information was recorded in web-based case report forms: demographic, clinical and radiographic data; physical examination findings, including tender and swollen joint counts (TJC and SJC); nail and skin involvement; Disease Activity Score-28 for Rheumatoid Arthritis with Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (DAS 28-ESR); Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI); Maastricht Ankylosing Spondylitis Enthesitis Score (MASES); Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI); Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Radiology Index for the spine (BASRI-s); Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ); Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI); Health Assessment Questionnaire for the spondyloarthropathies (HAQ-s); Psoriatic arthritis quality of Life scale (PsAQoL); Short Form 36 (SF-36); Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS); Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-F); and Fibromyalgia Rapid Screening Tool (FiRST) scores. The patients were divided into two groups, namely with and without enthesitis, based on the triple Likert-type physician-reported statement of ‘active enthesitis’, ‘history of enthesitis’ or ‘none’ in the case report forms. Patients with active enthesitis were compared to others in terms of these clinical parameters. A total of 1130 patients were enrolled in this observational study. Of these patients, 251 (22.2%) had active enthesitis according to the clinical assessment. TJC, HAQ-s, BASDAI, FiRST and PsAQoL were significantly higher whereas the SF-36 scores were lower in patients with enthesitis (p < 0.05). Chronic back pain, dactylitis, and tenosynovitis were more frequent in the enthesopathy group (59.4%/39%, 13.1%/6.5% and 24.7%/3.4%, respectively). Significant positive correlations between the MASES score and the TJC, HAQ, DAS 28-ESR, BASDAI, FiRST and PsAQoL scores, and a negative correlation with the SF-36 score were found. When linear regression analysis was performed, the SF-36 MCS and PCS scores decreased by − 9.740 and − 11.795 units, and the FiRST scores increased by 1.223 units in patients with enthesitis. Enthesitis is an important involvement of PsA with significant relations to quality of life determined with PsAQoL and SF-36 scores. Our study found higher frequency of dactylitis and chronic back pain, and worse quality of life determined with SF-36 and PsAQoL scores in patients with enthesitis

Familial Mediterranean fever: perspective on female fertility and disease course in pregnancy from a multicenter nationwide network.

The aim of this study was to analyze the pregnancy process, especially the Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) disease course and attack types during pregnancy, and to examine the relationship between disease-related factors and female infertility in FMF patients. The study, which was planned in a multicenter national network, included 643 female patients. 435 female patients who had regular sexual intercourse were questioned in terms of infertility. Pregnancy and delivery history, FMF disease severity and course during pregnancy were evaluated. The relationship between demographic and clinical findings, disease severity, genetic analysis results and infertility was investigated. 401 patients had at least 1 pregnancy and 34 patients were diagnosed with infertility. 154 patients had an attack during pregnancy. 61.6% of them reported that attacks during pregnancy were similar to those when they were not pregnant. The most common attack symptoms were fever, fatigue and abdominal pain-peritonitis (96%, 87%, and 83%, respectively) in the pregnancy period. The disease-onset age, disease activity score, gene mutation analyses, and regular colchicine use (> 90%) were similar between the fertile and infertile groups, while the frequency of previous appendectomy and alcohol consumption rates were higher in individuals with infertility. Our results indicated no significant change in the frequency and severity of attacks during pregnancy. The low rate of infertility (7.8%) in our patients was noted. It has been suggested that the risk of FMF-related infertility may not be as high as thought in patients who are followed up regularly and received colchicine