A maturity model for digital ML tools to be used in manufacturing environments

Low or no code machine learning platforms, whereof tools such as KNIME, DataRobot or WEKA are among the best-known, have facilitated the implementation of machine learning applications in industrial environments in recent years by transferring programming tasks to an assistance system instead of demanding users to provide the respective skills. Despite the high number of innovations, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, there is no comprehensive classification scheme to assess the autonomy of those tools. Hence, this paper demonstrates a maturity model that classifies the assistance level of existing digital machine learning tools with respect to the requirements of manufacturing environments. It is based on the levels of driving automation and concretized by the so-called CRISP-ML(Q) procedure model. The model allows researchers to rate newly developed tools against existing ones and aims to serve as a baseline for future research. To evaluate the added value to the research landscape, semi-structured interviews with four ML experts were conducted. Finally, five commercial tools were categorized in the model to show its applicability

Assessment of Voiding Dysfunction and Nocturnal Enuresis Rates in Primary School Children in an Anatolian City with a Validated Dysfunctional Voiding Scoring System Questionnaire

Objective:To investigate the prevalence of voiding dysfunction (VD) and nocturnal enuresis (NE) in Turkish primary school children using a previously validated Dysfunctional Voiding Scoring System (DVSS) questionnaire and a self-administered questionnaire.Materials and Methods:The previously validated DVSS questionnaire was completed by the parents of 3015 randomly selected children. Another questionnaire was also administered for studying VD and NE rates, demographic characteristics, and learning or behavioral problems of children.Results:Of all children, 6.6% (n=199) had a score suggesting VD and 6.1% (n=185) had NE. No significant differences were found between children with and without VD in terms of age, gender, and fluid intake. Children with VD had significantly high rates of constipation (19.7% vs 5.2%; p<0.001) and fecal soiling (32.1% vs 5.1%; p<0.01) compared with children without VD. Children with a higher DVSS score had more frequent behavioral or psychological problems (20.7% vs 4.7%; p<0.01) and learning disabilities (14.7% vs 5.5%; p<0.01). VD had no correlation with overall maternal education level and the type of school (government or private).Conclusion:VD and NE are highly frequent in early childhood and positively correlated with children’s learning disabilities and psychological problems

Upper urinary tract deterioration and possible etiologies in intractable voiding dysfunction: Role of occult spinal malformation

Objectives: To evaluate the presence of upper urinary tract deterioration (UUTD) and accompanying pathologies in children treated with the diagnosis of non-neurogenic bladder-sphincter dysfunction (NNBSD). Patients and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 316 consecutive patients with NNBSD who were treated. All cohort were grouped into two: Group I (Treatment success; n=284), Group II (Treatment failure with any form of occult spinal pathology; n=32). Thirty-four children with treatment-failure and normal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings were excluded. Groups were compared for pre- and posttreatment pediatric lower urinary tract symptom score (PLUTSS), presence of UUTD and urodynamic findings. Results: The mean PLUTSS was significantly less in Group I compared with Group II at pre-treatment and 3 months thereafter the initial treatment (12.20 ± 5.90 and 5.20 ± 4.90 vs 20.3 ± 2.14 and 18 ± 3.4, respectively p<0.01). The mean cystometric capacities and detrusor leak point pressure (DLPP) of Group II prior to initial treatment and after 6 months of the untethering surgery were found to be 194, 267 mL and 28, 12cm H2O, respectively (p<0.05). Presence of UUTD was significantly correlated with DLPP >20 cm H2O and presence of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR)

Validación de la versión española de la escala de síntomas de malfunción del tracto urinario inferior en población pediátrica (PLUTSS)

[Abstract] OBJETIVO: Las Malfunciones del Tracto Urinario Inferior (MTUI) constituyen la patología más frecuente en urología pediátrica. En la actualidad no existe ninguna escala validada para el screening de síntomas del tracto urinario inferior que haya sido traducida y adaptada a la población pediátrica española. La Escala de Síntomas del Tracto Urinario inferior (PLUTSS) ha probado ser un instrumento válido para diagnosticar y monitorizar la respuesta al tratamiento de los niños con MTUI. El objetivo de este estudio es traducir al español y validar el cuestionario PLUTSS adaptándolo culturalmente a la población pediátrica española. MÉTODOS: Estudio descriptivo de validación del cuestionario PLUTSS realizado entre Febrero de 2015 y Febrero de 2016. La versión española se creó mediante el método de traducción-retraducción con traductores expertos bilingües y siguiendo los Principios de la ISPOR (International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research). El cuestionario fue entregado a 80 pacientes, 40 de ellos con sintomatología del tracto urinario inferior y otros 40 sin ninguna patología urológica. Se realizó un estudio estadístico descriptivo de correlación de escala. Para comprobar la validez de la escala se estudio la fiabilidad del test-retest mediante el coeficiente de correlación de intraclase. La consistencia interna se evaluó con el coeficiente alfa de Cronbach. Se usó además la curva ROC para definir el punto de corte y su validez para discriminar entre los dos grupos de pacientes. RESULTADOS: Hubo diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre las medias de ambos grupos: 20,53 (en los pacientes con MTUI) frente a 3,27 (en los controles). La consistencia interna de los 13 ítems de la escala (sin la pregunta de calidad de vida) fue alta: Coeficiene alfa de Cronbach=0,827. El análisis del test-retest mostró un coeficiente de correlación de intraclase de 0,997 (95% IC: 0,994-0,999) (p<0,0001). CONCLUSIONES: La versión española del cuestionario PLUTSS ha probado ser aceptable y culturalmente equivalente a la versión original. Esta escala tiene un nivel bueno de consistencia, validez y aplicabilidad. Además la escala PLUTSS ha mostrado un alto poder para detectar pacientes con MTUI

Maternal and fetal outcomes in pregnant women with pulmonary arterial hypertension: A single-center experience and review of current literature

BACKGROUND: Although pregnancy in women with pulmonary arterial hypertension has been considered a high-risk condition, current data regarding pregnancy with pulmonary arterial hypertension are scarce. In this study, we aimed to evaluate our single-center data on maternal and fetal outcomes in pregnant women with PAH and review currently available risk-based management strategies. METHODS: Our single-center study group comprised 35 women who became pregnant after the diagnosis of pulmonary arterial hypertension or in whom pulmonary arterial hypertension was diagnosed within early post-partum period. Clinical, laboratory, echocardiographic, and hemodynamic characteristics of pregnant and non-pregnant productive women with pulmonary arterial hypertension were compared, and similar comparison was also repeated for survivors and non-survivors in pregnant patient group. RESULTS: Pregnancy was noted in 15% of the 228 females with pulmonary arterial hypertension who were of hormonally productive ages, generally well-tolerated until delivery. Elective abortion and pre-term delivery were documented in 1 (2.8%) and 12 (35.3%) pregnant women, respectively. Switching to sildenafil was the standard medication during pregnancy. Cesarian section was the preferred method of delivery in all pregnant women with pulmonary arterial hypertension and was performed without any complication. Clinic deteoriation within the first week of delivery was observed in 5 (41.6%) patients. Maternal mortality was noted in 13 (37.1%) patients and was documented to cumulate within the first month of delivery. However, any sign predicting post-partum clinical deterioration was not found. No fetal mortality was observed. CONCLUSION: Despite the development of advanced therapies, pregnancy in pulmonary arterial hypertension still carries a high mortality risk and requires multi-disciplinary expert center care with more proactive management strategies

A new index for the prediction of in-hospital mortality in patients with acute pulmonary embolism: The modified shock index

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary embolism severity index, its simplified version, and shock index have been used for risk stratification in acute pulmonary embolism. In this study, we proposed a modification in severity index and evaluated the correlates and prognostic value of modification in severity index in this setting. METHODS: The study group comprised retrospectively evaluated 181 patients with acute pulmonary embolism. Systematic workup including pulmonary embolism severity index, its simplified version, shock index, biomarkers, and echocardiographic and multidetector computed tomography assessments was performed in all patients. Moreover, we calculated modification in severity index by multiplying original shock index (heart rate/systolic blood pressure ratio) and a third component, 1/pulse oxymetric saturation (pSat O2%) ratio. The primary endpoint was defined as all-cause mortality and hemodynamic collapse during the hospital stay. RESULTS: On the basis of initial risk stratification, ultrasound-assisted thrombolysis, systemic tissue-type plasminogen activator, and unfractionated heparin therapies were utilized in 83 (45.9%), 37 (20.4%), and 61 (33.7%) patients, respectively. The primary end-point occurred in 13 (7.2%) patients. Receiver-operating curve analysis revealed that modification in severity index had the highest area under the curve of 0.739 (0.588-0.890, P =.002) compared with shock index, pulmonary embolism severity index, or its simplified version. The modification in severity index > 0.989 predicted primary endpoint with 73% sensitivity and 54% specificity. CONCLUSIONS: The modification in severity index seems to be a simple, quick, and compre-hensive risk assessment tool for bedside evaluation at initial stratification, in monitoring the clinical benefit from therapies, and decision-making for escalation to other reperfusion strategies in patients with acute pulmonary embolism. However, the prognostic value of modification in severity index needs to be validated with further studies

A novel composed index to evaluate the right ventricle free-wall adaptation against ventricular wall stress in acute pulmonary embolism

Background: Pulmonary embolism severity index and simplified pulmonary embolism severity index have been utilized in initial risk evaluation in patients with acute pulmonary embolism. However, these models do not include any imaging measure of right ventricle function. In this study, we proposed a novel index and aimed to evaluate the clinical impact. Methods: Our study population comprised retrospectively evaluated 502 patients with acute pulmonary embolism managed with different treatment modalities. Echocardiographic and computed tomographic pulmonary angiography evaluations were performed at admission to the emergency room within maximally 30 minutes. The formula of our index was as follows: (right ventricle diameter × systolic pulmonary arterial pressure-echo)/(right ventricle free-wall diameter × tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion). Results: This index value showed significant correlations to clinical and hemodynamic severity measures. Only pulmonary embolism severity index, but not our index value, independently predicted in-hospital mortality. However, an index value higher than 17.8 predicted the long-term mortality with a sensitivity of 70% and specificity of 40% (areas under the curve = 0.652, 95% CI, 0.557-0.747, P = .001). According to the adjusted variable plot, the risk of long-term mortality increased until an index level of 30 but remained unchanged thereafter. The cumulative hazard curve also showed a higher mortality with high-index value versus low-index value. Conclusions: Our index composed from measures of computed tomographic pulmonary angiography and transthoracic echocardiography may provide important insights regarding the adaptation status of right ventricle against pressure/wall stress in acute pulmonary embolism, and a higher value seems to be associated with severity of the clinical and hemodynamic status and long-term mortality but not with in-hospital mortality. However, the pulmonary embolism severity index remained as the only independent predictor for in-hospital mortality

Türkiye'nin 2010 sonrası makroekonomik göstergelerinin Avrupa Birliği üyesi ülkelerle karşılaştırılması

Her ülke ekonomisinde, belirli bir dönem içinde meydana gelen iyileşme veya gerilemenin temel göstergesi o ülkeye ilişkin makroekonomik verilerdir. Küresel çapta ülkelerin rekabet düzeyinin artması ve yabancı yatırımlar için daha cazip bir ülke konumuna gelebilmek gibi birçok olumlu sürecin gerçekleşmesi, öncelikle makro düzeyde başarılı bir ekonomik performansın sergilenmesiyle mümkündür. Bu kapsamda hem Türkiye’nin dış ticarette birinci sıradaki partnerinin AB olması hem de Türkiye ve Birlik arasında yürütülen tam üyelik müzakere süreci nedeniyle Türkiye ve AB ülkelerinin ekonomik görünümleri önem arz etmektedir.2008 yılı Eylül ayında ABD’de başlayan mortgage krizi, 2009 yılından itibaren tüm Dünya’yı etkisi altına alan küresel bir ekonomik krize dönüşmüş ve Türkiye ile AB ülkelerinde de kendini ciddi şekilde hissettirmiştir. Bu çalışmada, 2010 yılından itibaren Türkiye ve AB ülkelerinin; seçilmiş yedi makro gösterge (enflasyon, uzun dönem faiz oranı, kamu borcu, bütçe açığı, işsizlik, büyüme ve cari işlemler dengesi) üzerinden karşılaştırılması yapılmıştır. Seçilen ilk dört makro gösterge, aynı zamanda AB’nin Maastricht Kriterleridir.--------------------In each country’s economy, the main indicator of improvement or decline are occurring within a specific period of macroeconomic data for that country. Many positive processes such as increasing the competitiveness level of the countries on a global scale and becoming a more attractive country for foreign investments are possible only through successful economic performance at the macro level. In this context, the EU and Turkey's foreign trade in the first row to become a partner, as well as economic outlook for Turkey and the EU countries due to the full membership negotiation process carried out between Turkey and the Union is important.The mortgage crisis, which started in the USA in September 2008, has turned into a global economic crisis that has affected the whole world since 2009 and has made itself felt seriously in the macro data of Turkey and the EU. In this study, since 2010, Turkey and the EU countries; seven selected macro indicators (inflation, long-term interest rate, public debt, budget deficit, unemployment, economic growth and current account balance) comparison has been made out. The first four selected macro indicators are also the Maastricht Criteria of the EU