CINet: A Learning Based Approach to Incremental Context Modeling in Robots

There have been several attempts at modeling context in robots. However, either these attempts assume a fixed number of contexts or use a rule-based approach to determine when to increment the number of contexts. In this paper, we pose the task of when to increment as a learning problem, which we solve using a Recurrent Neural Network. We show that the network successfully (with 98\% testing accuracy) learns to predict when to increment, and demonstrate, in a scene modeling problem (where the correct number of contexts is not known), that the robot increments the number of contexts in an expected manner (i.e., the entropy of the system is reduced). We also present how the incremental model can be used for various scene reasoning tasks.Comment: The first two authors have contributed equally, 6 pages, 8 figures, International Conference on Intelligent Robots (IROS 2018

Mixed Methods Research in Special Education in Turkey: Learning from Researcher Experiences in Graduate Thesis

As a relatively young approach, mixed methods research (MMR) is a highly practical method to employ in special education due to its challenges and gains for the researchers. In this qualitative study, our aim is to explore the experiences and opinions of the researchers who completed their graduate thesis studies via MMR in special education in Turkey. We depended on hermeneutic (interpretive) phenomenological design and conducted focus group discussions with eight participants. Inductive thematic analysis has yielded four themes: (1) discovering the nature of MMR, (2) the reasons to opt for MMR, (3) the experience in conducting MMR, and (4) suggestions. The findings have revealed that understanding the mixed paradigm is a challenging task which requires a change in the mindset of researcher. Its strong functional features for special education have directed researchers towards MMR. However, many challenges raise the question: “to what extent do studies meet the MMR quality standards?” The limitations we observed in the theses have indicated that the quality standards are not adequately reflected. The relatively new nature of the method, researchers’ lack of knowledge and experience, and insufficient support from the supervisor were the sources of the challenges according to our findings. We can say that there is also a need for studies discussing the implementation of the method in special education and for guidelines that will plot a route

Social network usage, shame, guilt and pride among high school students: Model testing

This study was aimed at testing a model which applies structural equation modeling (SEM) to explain social networking sites (SNS) usage. Performing SEM with a sample of 500 high school students (40% male, 60% female), the model examined the relationships among shame, guilt and pride on SNS, such Facebook and Twitter. It was hypothesized that SNS usage was predicted directly by shame and indirectly by pride and guilt. The SEM showed that shame affected SNS usage directly and positively, while guilt and pride indirectly affected SNS via shame. The fit indices of SEM produced good fit values (χ2 = 0.11, df = 2, χ2/df = 0.055, p = 0.94532, RMSEA = 0.00, GFI = 1.00, AGFI = 1.00, NFI = 1.00, NNFI = 1.00, CFI = 1.00, IFI = 1.00, RMR = 0.039; SRMR = 0.0042). According to these results, high school students’ feelings of shame, guilt and pride are important predictors of SNS usage

Vitamin D Deficiency in Children and Adolescents

Objective Vitamin D deficiency is an important health problem in both developed and developing countries. Recent reports on the extraskeletal effects of vitamin D have led to increased interest in prevalence studies on states of deficiency/insufficiency of vitamin D. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency in children and adolescents residing in Ankara, Turkey and to investigate the factors associated with low vitamin D status

Okul Yöneticilerinin Gücü Kullanma Stillerinin Öğretmenlerin Örgütsel Bağlılıkları ve İş Performansları ile İlişkisi

Power is the ability of an individual or group to influence others and a source of directing behavior in a desired way. School administrators use power styles in order to be able to affect school staff and lead them to the direction of their goals.  Power styles are divided into two as stylistic and personal power. Job performance is the level of the staff to carry out the work and organizational goals. In order for the schools to be successful and effective, their staff’s performance needs to be high. One of the factors which play a significant role in increasing job performance is organizational commitment.  In order for the organizations to reach their determined goals, they need workers who are willing to stay within the organization, do voluntary work for the sake of the organization and feel high commitment to the organization. In this context, administrators’ power styles and teachers’ organizational commitment are accepted as variables which affect teachers’ job performance in school organizations.   This study aims at determining to what extent school administrators’ use of power styles and teachers’ organizational commitment account for the teachers’ job performance. The study is in the relational survey model. The sample of the research consists of 292 teachers who have been chosen by accidental sampling and work in the central districts of Denizli. In the study which has been carried out through simple and multiple regression analyses, it has been found out that the school administrators’ power styles and teachers’ organizational commitment predict the teachers’ job performance.Güç, bir birey veya grubun diğerlerini etkileyebilme yeteneği ve davranışları istenilen doğrultuda yönlendirebilme kaynağıdır. Yöneticiler, okullarda çalışanları etkileyebilmek ve amaçlar doğrultusunda yönlendirebilmek için güç stilleri kullanırlar. Güç stilleri, biçimsel ve kişisel güç olarak ikiye ayrılır. İş performansı, çalışanların işi, örgütsel hedefleri yerine getirebilme düzeyidir. Okulların etkili ve başarılı olabilmeleri için çalışanların performanslarının yüksek olması gerekmektedir. İş performansının arttırılmasında rol oynayan etmelerden birisi de örgütsel bağlılıktır. Örgütlerin belirlenen hedeflere ulaşabilmeleri için örgütte kalmaya istekli, örgüt yararına yönelik gönüllü çalışmalar gerçekleştiren, örgüte yüksek sadakat hissi duyan çalışanlara ihtiyacı vardır. Bu bağlamda, okul örgütlerinde yöneticilerin güç stilleri ve öğretmenlerin örgütsel bağlılığı, performansını artıran değişkenler olarak kabul edilmiştir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, okul yöneticilerinin gücü kullanma stillerinin ve öğretmenlerin örgütsel bağlılıklarının öğretmenlerin performanslarını ne düzeyde açıkladığını belirlemektir. Araştırma, ilişkisel tarama modelindedir. Araştırmanın örneklemi ise Denizli merkez ilçelerinde görev yapan rastlantısal örneklem yöntemi ile seçilen 292 öğretmendir. Basit ve çoklu regresyon analizlerinin yapıldığı araştırmada, okul yöneticilerinin kullandıkları güç stillerinin ve öğretmenlerin örgütsel bağlılıklarının öğretmenlerin iş performansını yordadığı sonucuna ulaşılmıştır

Cervical Priming Before Diagnostic Operative Hysteroscopy in Infertile Women: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Comparison of 2 Vaginal Misoprostol Doses

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of vaginal misoprostol for cervical priming at doses of 200 mcg and 400 mcg, 12 to 15 hours before diagnostic office hysteroscopy (OH) without anesthesia in patients with infertility. Sixty infertile patients requiring a diagnostic office hysteroscopy for investigation of infertility were included in the study. The patients were randomly allocated into 3 vaginally administered misoprostol groups: (1) control group, (2) 200-mcg dose group, and (3) 400-mcg dose group. Misoprostol significantly facilitated the procedure of OH: cervical entry was easier; procedural time was shorter; baseline cervical width was larger; and pain scoring was lower in the misoprostol groups compared with the control group. Increasing the dose of misoprostol from 200 mcg to 400 mcg did not improve the effect on cervical dilation. Misoprostol is a promising analog to use for cervical priming before OH. Since doses of 200 mcg and 400 mcg vaginal misoprostol 12 hours before the OH both have proven to be effective regimens, 200 mcg may be preferred. However, before routine clinical usage, further research is needed through large, randomized, controlled trials powered to detect a difference in complications to determine whether misoprostol reduces complications in OH.Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit of Istanbul UniversityIstanbul University [26324]An earlier version of this research was presented at the 42nd Annual Meeting of American Society of Reproductive Medicine in San Diego, 2012. This was made possible by funding from the Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit of Istanbul University (grant 26324)

Comparison of body mass index level by triage level in the emergency department

INTRODUCTION: Obesity is a high cause of death in both non-communicable and communicable diseases such as COVID-19. The aim of this study is to increase the awareness of emergency department (ED) managers and employees about this problem by showing obesity rates according to triage level in patients admitted to the ED.MATERIAL AND METHODS: BMI levels and complaints of 1246 patients admitted to the ED according to the 3-level triage were re-evaluated with the 5-level ESI (Emergency Severity Index) triage for this study.RESULTS: The mean BMI of 1246 patients was found to be 27.25 ± 5.88 (overweight). 26% of the ED patients were found to be obese and 37.7% of them were overweight. While the mean BMI score of the 6–11 age group was found to be class 1 obesity, the other pediatric and adult age groups were found to be overweight. The highest mean BMI according to both the 3-stage triage system and the 5-stage ESI triage system was found in triage 1 patients (28.8011 ± 7.98; 28.18 ± 6.78, respectively). Obese patients mostly applied to the ED with orthopedic problems and trauma (26.5%). Also, of the patients with class 3 severe obesity, 50% presented with trauma.CONCLUSIONS: The higher the BMI, the higher the triage severity level. BMI levels should be evaluated in the field of triage together with vital signs, especially in trauma patients, and obesity should be considered in ED and hospital management

Fistula Campaigns-Are They of Any Benefit?

Objective Evaluation of the problems encountered during a voluntarily fistula campaign in a regional hospital of Niger (Africa) Materials and Methods Women underwent basic gynecological examination, methylene blue testing, and/or direct cystoscopy as necessary According to their clinical condition, women were informed and surgical options offered as appropriate Operations were performed under spinal or epidural anesthesia Immediate postoperative outcomes were followed during the stay of the surgical team in the country Results A total of 62 women were examined and 11 had causes of incontinence other than obstetric fistula In 9 8% of the women, severe local infection precluding any surgical intervention was evident In 58 8% of patients, the trigonal region and/or urethra were irreversibly damaged A proportion of patients (9 8%) with large lesions and intact urethra that were offered vaginal layered closure refused the intervention Of the women that were operated on (21 6%), six underwent vaginal layered closure with Martius fat flap and five women underwent a combined abdomino vaginal approach Conclusion It is extremely difficult to meet the needs of this global problem with short term programs and volunteers Directing these efforts to specialist fistula centers and creating reliable scientific evidence should be the main goal [Taiwan J Obstet Gynecol 2010,49(3) 291-296