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In orthopedic surgery, metals are preferred to support or treat damaged bones due to their high mechanical strength. However, the necessity for a second surgery for implant removal after healing creates problems. Therefore, biodegradable metals, especially magnesium (Mg), gained importance, although their extreme susceptibility to galvanic corrosion limits their applications. The focus of this study was to control the corrosion of Mg and enhance its biocompatibility. For this purpose, surfaces of magnesium-calcium (MgCa1) alloys were modified with calcium phosphate (CaP) or CaP doped with zinc (Zn) or gallium (Ga) via MgCa1 microarc oxidation. The effects of surface modifications on physical, chemical, and mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of the alloys were studied using surface profilometry, goniometry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), nanoindentation, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The coating thickness was about 5-8 mu m, with grain sizes of 43.1 nm for CaP coating and 28.2 and 58.1 nm for Zn- and Ga-doped coatings, respectively. According to EIS measurements, the capacitive response (Y-c) decreased from 11.29 to 8.72 and 0.15 Omega(-1) cm(-2) s(n) upon doping with Zn and Ga, respectively. The E-corr value, which was -1933 mV for CaP-coated samples, was found significantly electropositive at -275 mV for Ga-doped ones. All samples were cytocompatible according to indirect tests. In vitro culture with Saos-2 cells led to changes in the surface compositions of the alloys. The numbers of cells attached to the Zn-doped (2.6 x 10(4) cells/cm(2)) and Ga-doped (6.3 x 10(4) cells/cm(2)) coatings were higher than that on the surface of the undoped coating (1.0 x 10(3) cells/cm(2)). Decreased corrosivity and enhanced cell affinity of the modified MgCa alloys (CaP coated and Zn and Ga doped, with Ga-doped ones having the greatest positive effect) make them novel and promising candidates as biodegradable metallic implant materials for the treatment of bone damages and other orthopedic applications.

Aim: In this study, we aimed to analyze the effect of prognostic nutritional index and neutrophile lymphocyte ratio on the overall survival (OS) in patients treated with regorafenib. Materials and Methods: Metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) patients who treated with regorafenib between 2016 and 2020 in a single center were evaluated retrospectively. ROC analysis was used for neutrophile lymphocyte ratio (NLR’s) and prognostic nutritional index (PNI’s) optimum cut‑off value. The relationship between OS with PNI and NLR was investigated. Results: Fifty‑two patient’s data were analyzed. The median age was 57 years, 22 (41.5%) of the patients were female. The optimal cut‑off value of PNI for OS was 45.7 according to ROC curve analysis. The median NLR value was accepted as 2.7. Median OS was 8.3 months. Patients who have high PNI value than 45.7 had longer OS (12.09 months vs. 6.31 months hazard ratio [HR]: 0.37 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.19–0.73 P = 0.003) and there was a tendency for longer OS with low NLR value then median (12.05 months vs. 6.14 months HR: 0.54 95% CI: 0.29–1.23 P = 0.057). Primary tumor resected patients had longer OS than nonresected patients (12.05 months vs. 6.30 months HR: 0.34 95% CI: 0.17–0.66 P = 0.001). In multivariate analysis, high PNI value more than 45.7 (HR: 0.40 95% CI: 0.18–0.88 P = 0.02) and resection of the primary tumor (HR: 0.40 95% CI: 0.21–0.80 P = 0.01) were the only independent factors for longer OS. Conclusion: Metastatic CRC patients with high pretreatment PNI and primary tumor resected are more likely to have longer OS with regorafenib. PNI is more reliable index than NLR to predict OS in metastatic CRC patients treated with regorafenib.

In the presence of cutouts, the buckling strength of shell structures under compression significantly decreases. In order to compensate this, these structures are reinforced with stiffeners. In this study, the objective is to optimize the stiffener geometry and pattern on a cylindrical shell with two square holes to maximize the buckling load capacity without increase in its weight. A finite element model is developed to evaluate the buckling load of the structure. A good correlation is observed between the nonlinear analysis results of the model and the numerical and experimental results reported in the literature. Optimization is achieved in two levels. In the first level, topography optimization is performed to obtain the optimal stiffener pattern over the shell surface based on linear eigenvalue buckling analysis. In the second level, the stiffener heights and the shell thickness are optimized using a local search algorithm, Nelder-Mead; the buckling load levels are obtained by carrying out nonlinear buckling analyses in ANSYS. A Python code is developed to implement the optimization method and conduct analyses in ANSYS. The results show that stiffeners need to be introduced around the cutouts and the regions near the top and bottom edges for maximum buckling load capacity. The results also reveal that stiffeners on the mid lateral surfaces of the cylinder do not make significant contribution to the buckling strength. The bucking load of the optimized stiffened geometry is 22% higher than that of the unreinforced geometry having the same weight.

The parathyroid glands are localized at the back of the thyroid glands in the cervical region and are responsible for regulation of the calcium level in the blood, through specialized cells that sense Ca2+ and secrete parathyroid hormone (PTH) in response to a decline in its serum level. PTH stimulates the skeleton, kidneys and intestines and controls the level of Ca2+ through specialized activities. Iatrogenic removal of the parathyroid gland, as well as damage to its vascular integrity during cauterization are some of the common complications of thyroid surgery. Therefore, regeneration and/or replacement of malfunctioning parathyroid tissue is required. Tissue engineering is an emerging and promising field for patients with organ failure with recent pioneering clinical applications. The success of tissue engineering strategy depends on the use of proper cells, bioactive factors that stimulate the activities of these cells and scaffolds that are produced to recapitulate the tissue structure and support the function of the engineered tissues. 3D printing is a developing strategy for the production of these scaffolds by providing a delicate control over their structure and properties. In this study, human primary parathyroid cells were successfully isolated and their viability and ability to secrete PTH upon stimulation with different levels of Ca2+ were shown in vitro. These cells were then seeded onto 3D printed alginate scaffolds and 3D bioprinted within alginate bioink, and cell viability as well as the ability to secrete PTH upon stimulation were also demonstrated. Therefore, functional hormone-active parathyroid tissue substitute was engineered in vitro through 3D printed hydrogels and autologous cells.

To demonstrate whether early changes in systemic inflammatory markers are related with pazopanib treatment response in soft tissue sarcoma and renal cell carcinoma.Forty-one patients with metastatic clear cell renal carcinoma (mRCC) (n=22) and advanced stage soft tissue sarcoma (STS) (n=19) were assessed. Systemic inflammatory markers such as neutrophils, lymphocytes, c-reactive protein (CRP), mean platelet volume (MPV), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) at both baseline and 1-month of pazopanib treatment were obtained and their relation with the first radiological response about 3-months later after pazopanib treatment was evaluated.Disease control rate (DCR) at the first initial radiological evaluation was 58.5 % for all, it was 77.3% for the RCC group and 36.8% in the STS group. Serum neutrophil, NLR and CRP levels were significantly decreased from baseline in RCC patients who had DCR with pazopanib treatment. Also, serum CRP levels after pazopanib treatment was significantly lower in RCC patients who had DCR (+) rather than those who progressed.Early decline in serum CRP, neutrophil and NLR levels in RCC patients who received pazopanib at the first month was significantly associated with disease control, assuming a predictive role for the first radiological assessment. However, there was no significant association between change in serum inflammatory marker levels and disease control in STS patients.

In this study, we aimed to determine the factors which affect post-progression survival (PPS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.87 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer had been followed up with palliative care due to disease progression or ECOG performance status after receiving at least two cycles of chemotherapy. PPS was estimated as the time between the last progression date and last control or death date in patients who were followed up with palliative care.87 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer were included in the study. Evaluation with multivariate analysis of factors affecting PPS revealed a significantly longer PPS (10.8 weeks) in patients with ECOG score 0 or 1 than the PPS of patients with ECOG score 2-5 (3 weeks) (p=0.01). It was also found that PPS was 14.4 weeks in patients with CEA levels5ng/ml,while it was 6.7 weeks in patients with CEA levels ≥5 ng/ml (p=0.001) and PPS was 13.7 weeks in patients with controlled disease after first-line chemotherapy while it was 8 weeks in patients with progression (p=0.03); both were statistically significant. No significant association was found between PPS and age, gender, tumor location, sites of metastasis, and RAS status.ECOG performance status score of 0-1, CEA levels below 5 ng/ml, and disease control with first-line chemotherapy are related to longer PPS in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

Effective skeletal muscle tissue engineering relies on control over the scaffold architecture for providing muscle cells with the required directionality, together with a mechanical property match with the surrounding tissue. Although recent advances in 3D printing fulfill the first requirement, the available synthetic polymers either are too rigid or show unfavorable surface and degradation profiles for the latter. In addition, natural polymers that are generally used as hydrogels lack the required mechanical stability to withstand the forces exerted during muscle contraction. Therefore, one of the most important challenges in the 3D printing of soft and elastic tissues such as skeletal muscle is the limitation of the availability of elastic, durable, and biodegradable biomaterials. Herein, we have synthesized novel, biocompatible and biodegradable, elastomeric, segmented polyurethane and polyurethaneurea (TPU) copolymers which are amenable for 3D printing and show high elasticity, low modulus, controlled biodegradability, and improved wettability, compared to conventional polycaprolactone (PCL) and PCL-based TPUs. The degradation profile of the 3D printed TPU scaffold was in line with the potential tissue integration and scaffold replacement process. Even though TPU attracts macrophages in 2D configuration, its 3D printed form showed limited activated macrophage adhesion and induced muscle-like structure formation by C2C12 mouse myoblasts in vitro, while resulting in a significant increase in muscle regeneration in vivo in a tibialis anterior defect in a rat model. Effective muscle regeneration was confirmed with immunohistochemical assessment as well as evaluation of electrical activity produced by regenerated muscle by EMG analysis and its force generation via a custom-made force transducer. Micro-CT evaluation also revealed production of more muscle-like structures in the case of implantation of cell-laden 3D printed scaffolds. These results demonstrate that matching the tissue properties for a given application via use of tailor-made polymers can substantially contribute to the regenerative outcomes of 3D printed tissue engineering scaffolds. Keywords: 3D printing; engineered muscle; polyurethane; polyurethaneurea; skeletal muscle; tibialis anterior defect.

In this study, we aimed to compare the data of sunitinib and pazopanib used in the first-line treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cases and to evaluate the effective factors in terms of survival.The records of 125 patients with metastatic RCC admitted between January 2005 and February 2018 were retrospectively analyzed and 63 patients who received pazopanib or sunitinib were included in the study while 62 patients were excluded due to insufficient data. Clinical and histological characteristics, treatment responses, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) of the patients were compared.Patients with metastatic RCC who received pazopanib or sunitinib as tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) in first-line treatment were analyzed; 45 (71.4%) were male while 18 (28.6%) were female, and the median age was 60. 43 (68.3%) patients were treated with sunitinib and 20 (31.7%) with pazopanib. PFS ​​of pazopanib and sunitinib were 10.6 and 7.2 months, respectively. Median OS was 14.5 months in patients receiving pazopanib and 13.6 months in those receiving sunitinib. There was no statistical difference in PFS and OS between both treatments. The median OS of clear-cell RCC was 15.2 months, while of non-clear-cell RCC was 7.7months.High ECOG score, non-clear-cell histology, presence of liver metastasis in metastatic RCC patients were found to be associated with shorter OS and PFS. Sunitinib and pazopanib produced similar OS and PFS rates in first-line treatment of metastatic RCC.

This study aims to determine opinions of students who stay in private student residences about administrative problems. The study is made using descriptive scanning model and since 5 of the 16 student residences operating in Elazığ in 2011-2012 academic year did not permit questionnaire application, population of the study is composed of 1200 students staying in the remaining 11 student residences in Elazığ. Sample of the study is composed of 498 students chosen with simple random sampling method from among students staying in the said 11 residences. For collection of data, a questionnaire titled "opinions of students staying in private student residences about administrative problems" was used which was developed by the researcher. With the data obtained, arithmetic average, standard deviation, t test, one way analysis of variance were made. According to findings of the research 47.2% of the students find food prices high. Officers working in the residences are behaving towards students respectfully in general. Administrators are dealing with students very much at sometimes level. Sufficient education environment for studying according to student number can sometimes be found.

The aim of this study is to determine the perceptions of school administrators and guidance teachers on the effectiveness of implementation process of guidance and psychological counselling services at primary schools. Through a survey method 56 principals, 110 vice-principals and 56 guidance teachers at 56 public schools in central town of Elazığ during the academic year of 2010-2011. The number of total participants taking part in the research is 138. The results show that the perception levels of female administrators and guidance teachers are higher than male administrators and guidance teachers on the effectiveness of implementation process of guidance and psychological counselling. On the other hand, the perception levels of administrators and guidance teachers having 1-5 years of service group are higher than those having 11-15, 16-20, and 21 and over years of service groups in respect of the effectiveness of the implementation process of guidance and psychological counselling.

This study aimed to reveal the relationship between the level of galectin-3 expression and the depth of response to neoadjuvant therapy in bladder tumor tissue with muscle invasion revealed by transurethral biopsy.The percentage of galectin-3 staining in transurethral biopsy tissue with muscle invasion was determined by immunohistochemistry. The patients were divided into two groups: the down-staging (+) group consisting of patients with pathological complete response or non-invasive bladder cancer, and the down-staging (-) group consisting of patients with stage 2 and above.There were 11 patients in the down-staging (+) group and 12 patients in the down-staging (-) group. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of median age, gender, smoking, clinical stage at the time of diagnosis, distribution of carboplatin or cisplatin used as a platinum agent. Galectin-3 was positive in 2 patients (18.2%) in the group where down-staging was achieved with neoadjuvant therapy, while it was positive in 9 patients (75%) in the other group (p = 0.01). The median follow-up period of the patients was 31.6 months (95% CI 25.1-39.3). Overall survival was 43.4 months in the down-staging (+) group (95% CI 25.1-61.6) and 31.6 months in the down-staging (-) group (95% CI 12.7-50.6). Although there was a numerical difference, it did not reach statistical significance (p=0.37).The rate of down-staging after platinum-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy is significantly higher in patients with low galectin-3 staining in transurethral bladder biopsy tissue.

We aimed to assess whether skeletal muscle loss during EGFR thyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy of advance non-small cell lung cancer patients is an independent prognostic factor for progression-free survival (PFS) and overal survival (OS).A total of 45 patients who had computed tomography images were retrospectively evaluated at the diagnosis and during the treatment period before progression occurs.During treatment 19 patients (42.2%) had skeletal muscle loss. Objective response rates in muscle loss group and muscle stable group were 36.8% and 73.0%, respectively (p0.01). Median follow-up time was 18.9 months (14.8-32.1). Median PFS was 14.7 months (95% CI 12.1-17.3) in muscle stable group and 7.6 months (95% CI 6.7-8.5) in muscle loss group (p0.01). Median OS was 18.3 months (95% CI 16.5-20.2) in muscle loss group while it was 30.1 months (95% CI 22.1-38.2) in muscle stable group (p0.01). In multivariate analysis for both PFS and OS, skeletal muscle loss was an independent prognostic factor. Hazard ratios (HR) for PFS and OS were 12.2 (95% CI 4.3-34.4) and 3.51 (95% CI 1.41-8.73) respectively.On CT imaging skeletal muscle loss before progression is an independent prognostic factor for both PFS and OS in advance non-small cell lung cancer patients who received EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy.

Study question Do livebirth rate (LBR), obstetric and perinatal outcomes vary between frozen embryo transfers (FET) in the first or subsequent menstrual cycles following a freeze-all approach? Summary answer Immediate FET has a higher LBR and similar perinatal outcomes than delayed FET. Quantitative synthesis of available literature shows an increased LBR with immediate transfer. What is known already Whether FET should be done in the first menstrual cycle following oocyte collection (OC) is controversial and the duration of a possible detrimental effect of supraphysiological sex steroid levels on pregnancy outcome is unknown. A multinational survey centers showed that, 61% of clinicians prefer to wait for a washout period before proceeding to FET, even after a failed fresh embryo transfer. Limited number of studies compared FET in the first menstrual cycle with delayed FET in a subsequent cycle with varying results. There is limited data on obstetric outcomes of pregnancies resulting from FET in the first menstrual cycle. Study design, size, duration 198 women who underwent a freeze-all cycle followed by FET between July 2017 and June 2020 were included. 119 FET in the first menstrual cycle (30 days from oocyte collection) were retrospectively compared. MEDLINE was searched on 01 January 2021 using relevant keywords. Cohort studies comparing immediate versus delayed transfer following freeze all cycles were included and quantitative summary for LBR was obtained. Participants/materials, setting, methods Freeze-all was undertaken when (i) the woman is deemed to be at high risk for OHSS, (ii)serum progesterone level is > 1.5 ng/ml on the day of trigger, (iii)preimplantation genetic testing is planned, (iv)the woman will undergo surgery prior to ET, (v)couple preference. Main results and the role of chance Baseline characteristics were similar between the groups except for antral follicle count (22 vs 18, MD = 5, 95% CI = 0 to 8), and number of metaphase-two oocytes (13 vs 10, MD = 3, 95% CI = 1 to 6) all of which were significantly higher in the immediate transfer group. Clinical pregnancy rate (CPR) per ET was similar in two groups (50.4% vs 44.3%, RR = 1.14, 95% CI = 0.84 to 1.54). Miscarriage rate per pregnancy was significantly lower (12.3 vs 31.1, RR = 0.40, 95% CI = 0.19 to 0.84) and LBR per ET was significantly higher (42.9 vs 26.6, RR = 1.61, 95% CI = 1.06 to 2.46) in the immediate transfer group. Median gestational age at delivery was similar (267.5 (262.5–273) vs 268 (260–271.5) days, MD = 1.00, 95% CI= –4.00 to 5.00). Median birthweight was significantly higher in the delayed transfer group (3520 vs 3195 grams, MD= –300, 95% CI= –660 to –20 grams). Birthweight percentile, height at birth and head circumference were similar between groups. Literature search revealed 1712 studies from which nine were eligible for quantitative summary. Cumulative risk ratio showed a 10% increase in LBR with immediate transfer compared to delayed transfer (RR = 1.10, 95% CI = 1.01 – 1.20, I2=67%, 17369 embryo transfers). Limitations, reasons for caution Our study is limited by its retrospective design and relatively limited sample size for multivariate analyses. Yet, it is reassuring that the majority of our findings are consistent with previous publications. Wider implications of the findings: The hypotheses generated by our retrospective findings, i.e., FET in the immediate menstrual cycle resembling fresh ETs with strong trends towards lower birthweight and lower incidence of preeclampsia is noteworthy for the design of future studies, and these outcomes should be followed and reported. Trial registration number None

Skeletal muscle is an electrically and mechanically active tissue that contains highly oriented, densely packed myofibrils. The tissue has self-regeneration capacity upon injury, which is limited in the cases of volumetric muscle loss. Several regenerative therapies have been developed in order to enhance this capacity, as well as to structurally and mechanically support the defect site during regeneration. Among them, biomimetic approaches that recapitulate the native microenvironment of the tissue in terms of parallel-aligned structure and biophysical signals were shown to be effective. In this study, we have developed 3D printed aligned and electrically active scaffolds in which the electrical conductivity was provided by carbonaceous material (CM) derived from algae-based biomass. The synthesis of this conductive and functional CM consisted of eco-friendly synthesis procedure such as pre-carbonization and multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) catalysis. CM obtained from biomass via hydrothermal carbonization (CM-03) and its ash form (CM-03K) were doped within poly(ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL) matrix and 3D printed to form scaffolds with aligned fibers for structural biomimicry. Scaffolds were seeded with C2C12 mouse myoblasts and subjected to electrical stimulation during the in vitro culture. Enhanced myotube formation was observed in electroactive groups compared to their non-conductive counterparts and it was observed that myotube formation and myotube maturity were significantly increased for CM-03 group after electrical stimulation. The results have therefore showed that the CM obtained from macroalgae biomass is a promising novel source for the production of the electrically conductive scaffolds for skeletal muscle tissue engineering.

Synthetic polymers remain to be a major choice for scaffold fabrication due to their structural stability and mechanical strength. However, the lack of functional moieties limits their application for cell-based therapies which necessitate modification and functionalization. Blending synthetic polymers with natural components is a simple and effective way to achieve the desired biological properties for a scaffold. Herein, nanofibrous mats made of polycaprolactone (PCL) and egg white protein (EWP) blend were developed and further evaluated for use as a scaffold for tissue engineering applications. Homogeneous distribution of EWP was achieved throughout the nanofibrous mats, as shown by immunohistochemistry. ATR-FTIR analysis and contact angle measurements have further confirmed the presence of EWP on the surface of the samples. The swelling test showed that PCL/EWP nanofibers have higher water uptake than PCL nanofibrous mats. Also, EWP addition on the nanofibrous mats resulted in an increase in the tensile strength and Young’s modulus of the mats, indicating that the presence of protein can greatly enhance the mechanical properties of the mats. A significantly higher, more uniform, and dispersed cell spreading was observed on days 7 and 14 than that on neat PCL mats, demonstrating the importance of providing the required cues for cell homing by the availability of EWP. Hence, EWP is shown to be a simple and low-cost source for the functionalization of PCL nanofibrous mats. EWP is, therefore, a facile candidate to enhance cellular interactions of synthetic polymers for a wide range of tissue engineering applications.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether primary tumor localization may be a risk factor for relapse and survival in seminomatous germ cell tumors (GCT) patients.In our study, 612 seminomatous GCT patients diagnosed in 22 centers between 01.01.1989 and 03.02.2019 were retrospectively evaluated. Patient interview information, patient files and electronic system data were used for the study.The primary tumor was localized in the right testis in 305 (49.9%) patients and in 307 (50.1%) in the left testis. Mean age of the patients was 36 years (range 16-85±10.4). The median follow-up period was 47 months (1-298). Recurrence was observed in 78 (12.7%) patients and 29 (4.7%) died during the follow-up period. Four-year overall survival (OS) was 95.4% and 4-year progression-free survival (PFS) was 84.5%. The relationship between localization and relapse was significant in 197 patients with stage 2 and stage 3 (p=0.003). In this patient group, 41 (20.8%) relapses were observed. Thirty (73.2%) of the relapses were in the right testis and 11 (26.8%) in the left testis. Four-year OS was 92.1% in patients with right tumor; and 98.7% in patients with left tumor (p=0.007). When 612 patients were evaluated with a mean follow-up of 4 years, there was a 6.6% survival advantage in patients with left testicular tumor and this difference was significant (p=0.007).Survival rates of patients with primary right testicular localization were worse compared with left testicular localization, and relapse rates were higher in stage 2 and 3 patients with right testicular localization.

Research question Do live birth rates (LBR), obstetric and perinatal outcomes vary between women who underwent frozen embryo transfer (ET) in the immediately subsequent menstrual cycle, and with those who underwent delayed frozen ET. Design Retrospective cohort study (n = 198) consisting of 119 women who underwent immediate transfer within 30 days of oocyte retrieval (OR) and 79 women who underwent delayed transfer which was performed after >30 days following OR. Either flexible antagonist or flexible progestin-primed ovarian stimulation protocols were started after a baseline ultrasonography on the second or third day of menstrual cycle. Only freeze all cycles were included in the study and all transfers were with hormonal endometrial preparation. Main outcome measures were LBR, birth weight, gestational day at birth and pregnancy complications. Results Peak estradiol level on trigger day (2746 vs 2081 pg/ml) and number of metaphase-two oocytes (13 vs 10) were significantly higher in the immediate transfer group. Clinical pregnancy rate per ET was similar between the groups (50.4% vs 44.3%). However, miscarriage rate per positive pregnancy was significantly higher (12.3% vs 31.1%) while LBR per ET was significantly lower (42.9% vs 26.6%) in the delayed transfer group. Median gestational age at delivery were 267.5 and 268 days in the immediate and delayed transfer groups. Median birthweight was significantly higher in the delayed transfer group (3520 vs 3195 g). Adjusted analyses also suggest similar LBR with immediate and delayed transfer. Conclusion(s) Frozen ET in the immediate menstrual cycle and delayed ET, after a freeze all strategy did not show significant difference in terms of LBR after adjustment. Obstetric and perinatal outcomes of frozen ET in the immediate menstrual cycle appear reassuring.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine whether primary tumor localization may be a risk factor for relapse and survival in seminomatous germ cell tumors (GCT) patients. Methods: In our study, 612 seminomatous GCT patients diagnosed in 22 centers between 01.01.1989 and 03.02.2019 were retrospectively evaluated. Patient interview information, patient files and electronic system data were used for the study. Results: The primary tumor was localized in the right testis in 305 (49.9%) patients and in 307 (50.1%) in the left testis. Mean age of the patients was 36 years (range 16-85±10.4). The median follow-up period was 47 months (1-298). Recurrence was observed in 78 (12.7%) patients and 29 (4.7%) died during the follow-up period. Four-year overall survival (OS) was 95.4% and 4-year progression-free survival (PFS) was 84.5%. The relationship between localization and relapse was significant in 197 patients with stage 2 and stage 3 (p=0.003). In this patient group, 41 (20.8%) relapses were observed. Thirty (73.2%) of the relapses were in the right testis and 11 (26.8%) in the left testis. Four-year OS was 92.1% in patients with right tumor; and 98.7% in patients with left tumor (p=0.007). When 612 patients were evaluated with a mean follow-up of 4 years, there was a 6.6% survival advantage in patients with left testicular tumor and this difference was significant (p=0.007). Conclusion: Survival rates of patients with primary right testicular localization were worse compared with left testicular localization, and relapse rates were higher in stage 2 and 3 patients with right testicular localization. © 2020 Zerbinis Publications. All rights reserved.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine whether primary tumor localization may be a risk factor for relapse and survival in seminomatous germ cell tumors (GCT) patients. Methods: In our study, 612 seminomatous GCT patients diagnosed in 22 centers between 01.01.1989 and 03.02.2019 were retrospectively evaluated. Patient interview information, patient files and electronic system data were used for the study. Results: The primary tumor was localized in the right testis in 305 (49.9%) patients and in 307 (50.1%) in the left testis. Mean age of the patients was 36 years (range 16-85 +/- 10.4). The median follow-up period was 47 months (1-298). Recurrence was observed in 78 (127%) patients and 29 (4.7%) died during the follow-up period. Four-year overall survival (OS) was 95.4% and 4-year progression-free survival (PFS) was 84.5%. The relationship between localization and relapse was significant in 197 patients with stage 2 and stage 3 (p=0.003). In this patient group, 41 (20.8%) relapses were observed. Thirty (73.2%) of the relapses were in the right testis and 11 (26.8%) in the left testis. Four-year OS was 92.1% in patients with right tumor; and 98.7% in patients with left tumor (p=0.007). When 612 patients were evaluated with a mean follow-up of 4 years, there was a 6.6% survival advantage in patients with left testicular tumor and this difference was significant (p=0.007). Conclusion: Survival rates of patients with primary right testicular localization were worse compared with left testicular localization, and relapse rates were higher in stage 2 and 3 patients with right testicular localization. C1 [Yildiz, Birol; Erturk, Ismail; Acar, Ramazan; Karadurmus, Nuri] Hlth Sci Univ, Gulhane Training & Res Hosp, Dept Med Oncol, Ankara, Turkey. [Kucukarda, Ahmet; Gokyer, Ali] Trakya Univ, Fac Med, Dept Med Oncol, Edirne, Turkey. [Demiray, Atike Gokcen] Pamukkale Univ, Fac Med, Dept Med Oncol, Denizli, Turkey. [Paydas, Semra] Cukurova Univ, Fac Med, Dept Med Oncol, Adana, Turkey. [Aral, Ipek Pinar] Nevsehir State Hosp, Dept Radiat Oncol, Nevsehir, Turkey. [Gumusay, Ozge] Gazi Osman Pasa Univ, Fac Med, Dept Med Oncol, Tokat, Turkey. [Bilici, Ahmet] Medipol Univ, Fac Med, Dept Med Oncol, Istanbul, Turkey. [Akdeniz, Nadiye] Dicle Univ, Fac Med, Dept Med Oncol, Diyarbakir, Turkey. [Bahceci, Aykut] Gaziantep Dr Ersin ARSLAN Training & Res Hosp, Dept Med Oncol, Gaziantep, Turkey. [Demir, Hacer] Afyon Kocatepe Univ, Fac Med, Dept Med Oncol, Afyon, Turkey. [Esin, Ece] Bayindir Hosp, Dept Med Oncol, Ankara, Turkey. [Uyeturk, Ummugul] Abant Izzet Baysal Univ, Fac Med, Dept Med Oncol, Bolu, Turkey. [Okten, Ilker Nihat] Istanbul Medeniyet Univ, Gortepe Training & Res Hosp, Dept Med Oncol, Istanbul, Turkey. [Turk, H. Mehmet] BezmiAlem Vakif Univ, Dept Med Oncol, Istanbul, Turkey. [Topaloglu, Ulas Serkan] Kayseri City Hosp, Dept Internal Med, Kayseri, Turkey. [Basoglu, Tugba] Marmara Univ, Fac Med, Dept Med Oncol, Istanbul, Turkey. [Turhal, Nazim Serdar] Anadolu Med Ctr, Dept Med Oncol, Kocaeli, Turkey. [Cinkir, Havva Yesil] Gaziantep Univ, Dept Med Oncol, Fac Med, Gaziantep, Turkey. [Menekse, Serkan; Kut, Engin] Manisa City Hosp, Dept Med Oncol, Manisa, Turkey. [Cakmak, Yagmur] Kocaeli Univ, Fac Med, Dept Med Oncol, Kocaeli, Turkey. [Urun, Yuksel] Ankara Univ, Fac Med, Dept Med Oncol, Ankara, Turkey. [Dal, Pinar] Eskisehir City Hosp, Dept Med Oncol, Eskisehir, Turkey. [Sakalar, Teoman] Kahramanmaras City Hosp, Dept Med Oncol, Kahramanmaras, Turkey. [Aktepe, Oktay Halit] Hacettepe Univ, Fac Med, Dept Med Oncol, Ankara, Turkey.

Sand characteristics such as liquefaction susceptibility can be affected as a result of change in degree of saturation of sand. New liquefaction mitigation technique by inducing partial saturation in sands is introduced by Yegian et al in 2007[1]. This technique requires to monitor changes in degree of saturation of sand. By nature, changes in degree of saturation of sand can lead in changes in its electric conductivity. Electric conductivity is the property of a material that represents its ability to conduct electric current. Fully saturated sand can conduct electric current better than sand with lower degree of saturation. Therefore, the change in measured electric conductivity can be used to calculate the change in degree of saturation of sand. In 1942, Gus Archie [2] expressed that the electric conductivity of soil is a function of its porosity, degree of saturation, tortuosity and electric conductivity of pore fluid. Using Archie’s law electrical conductivity can be related to the degree of saturation in sands. Typically, electric conductivity probes and meters are instruments which are used to measure electric conductivity. Using electrical conductivity probes, sets of bench top tests were conducted on Ottawa sand to study the relation between degree of saturation and electric conductivity in sand. Partial saturation in sands were created by pouring dry sand into sodium percarbonate solution with a known initial concentration. By nature, sodium percarbonate in water, generates oxygen gas bubbles in time. The changes in electric conductivity in the specimen were measured using electric conductivity meters and probes. In addition, changes in degree of saturation of the specimen were measured using soil phase relations equations. Measured electric conductivity data and calculated degree of saturations were correlated to explore relation between electric conductivity and degree of saturation. This paper presents results of bench top tests, and suggests a relationship between, final degree of saturation of sand and initial concentration of sodium percarbonate solution

To assess whether regorafenib and TAS-102 treatments are associated with a change in Skeletal Muscle Area (SMA) as well as to compare Skeletal Muscle Mass (SMM) loss levels between regorafenib and TAS-102 treatments and prognostic significance in the patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).A total of 36 mCRC patients, who received regorafenib or TAS-102 in the third-line and subsequent settings were assessed in the analysis. SMM changes were assessed with CT scans findings, and they were categorized into two groups as SMM-loss (SMM decrease ≥2%) and SMM-stable (SMM change2%).The SMM change after regorafenib therapy was significantly worse compared with TAS-102 therapy (p=0.001). The median overall survival (OS) was longer in SMM-stable group than in SMM-loss group (12.8 months; 95%CI:9.8-15.7) vs. 6.4 months; 95%CI:5.2-7.7, respectively;p=0.04). Cox regression analysis showed that SMM loss was independent prognostic indicator for OS (HR, 2.87; 95%CI: 1.07-7.42, p=0.03).Although patients who received regorafenib had more SMM loss than those who received TAS-102, there was no difference in OS between drugs.

Purpose: To assess whether regorafenib and TAS-102 treatments are associated with a change in Skeletal Muscle Area (SMA) as well as to compare Skeletal Muscle Mass (SMM) loss levels between regorafenib and TAS-102 treatments and prognostic significance in the patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Methods: A total of 36 mCRC patients, who received regorafenib or TAS-102 in the third-line and subsequent settings were assessed in the analysis. SMM changes were assessed with CT scans findings, and they were categorized into two groups as SMM-loss (SMM decrease ≥2%) and SMM-stable (SMM change

Bu çalışmada binek araçlarda kullanılan gazlı pistonlu bagaj kapağı açma-kapama mekanizmaları teorik ve deneysel olarak incelenmiştir. Öncelikle bir dört çubuk mekanizması olduğu açıkça görülen bu mekanizmanın konum analizi yapılmıştır. Daha sonra virtuel işler ilkesine göre sanki-statik analizler yapılmış ve böylece ergonomi açısından en önemli parametrelerden biri olan kapağı açma ve kapama için gerekli el kuvveti hesaplanmıştır. Kurulan bu modeli doğrulamak için Türk Otomobil Fabrikası A. Ş. (TOFAŞ)’ de mevcut olan bir araç üzerinde fiziksel testler yapılarak el kuvveti deneysel olarak da tespit edilmiştir. Nihayetinde, matematiksel modelden elde edilen sonuçlar ile deneysel ölçümlerden elde edilen sonuçların uyumlu olduğu görülmüştür. Kurulan bu model farklı model araçlar için el kuvvetinin bulunmasında üreticilere kolaylık sağlayacaktır.

This chapter presents a set of scenarios involving the GoPro wearable Point of View (PoV) camera. The scenarios are meant to stimulate discussion about acceptable usage contexts with a focus on security and privacy. The chapter provides a wide array of examples of how overt wearable technologies are perceived and how they might/might not be welcomed into society. While the scenario is based at the University of Wollongong campus in Australia, the main implications derived from the fictitious events are useful in drawing out the predicted pros and cons of the technology. The scenarios are interpreted and the main thematic issues are drawn out and discussed. An in depth analysis takes place around the social implications, the moral and ethical problems associated with such technology, and possible future developments with respect to wearable devices.

Partial saturation in sands attributable to the presence of gas bubbles (not capillarity) can be encountered naturally in the field be- cause of the decomposition of organic matter, or it can be induced for liquefaction mitigation. An empirical model (RuPSS) was developed to predict the excess pore pressure ratio (ru) in partially saturated sands subjected to earthquake-induced shear strains. The model is based on experimental test results on partially saturated sands. Cyclic simple shear strain tests were performed on specimens prepared and tested in a special liquefaction box. Excess pore pressures were measured for a range of degrees of saturation 40%,S,90%, relative densities Dr 520267%, and cyclic shear strains g50:0120:2%. The test results demonstrated that partially saturated sands achieved a maximum excess pore pressure ratio (ru,max) when large enough cycles of shear strain were applied. The excess pore pressure ratio (ru) that partially saturated sand can achieve under a given earthquake-induced peak shear strain and the number of equivalent cycles of application can be significantly smaller than ru,max. Therefore, the empirical model was developed in two stages. In the first stage, ru,max was related to S, Dr, and shearstrain(g).In thesecondstage,amodelwasdevelopedrelatingru toru,max,shearstrainamplitude(g),effectivestress(s9),andearthquake magnitude(M).Thispaperpresentstheequationsthatdefinethepredictivemodelsforru,max andru.Throughtheseequations,plotsforru,max and ru are provided for ranges of soil and earthquake parameters for ease of use in engineering applications. To illustrate the implementation of the empirical model for predicting ru,max and ru, an example is presented in which a partially saturated sand layer experiencing a peak earthquake- induced shear strain was analyzed, and the pore pressure response of the sand was evaluated using both the predictive equations and the plots. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0000816. © 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers. CE Database subject headings: Soil liquefaction; Soil treatment; Saturated soils; Pore pressure; Empirical equations; Sand (soil type). Author keywords:Soil liquefaction; Soil treatment; Saturation; Pore pressure; Empirical equations; Induced partial saturation; Liquefaction mitigation; Empirical model; Soil model.

The liquefaction response of partially saturated loose sandswas experimentally investigatedto assess theeffect of partial saturation on thegenerationof excessporewater pressures.Anexperimental setup includingacyclicsimpleshearliquefaction boxwas devisedandman- ufactured.Theboxincludesporepressureanddisplacementtransducersaswellasbenderelementsandbendingdiskstomonitortheresponseof partially saturated specimens. Uniform partially saturated specimens with controlled density and degree of saturation were prepared by wet pluviationofpowderedsodiumperboratemonohydratemixedwithOttawasand.Thereactionofthesodiumperboratewithporewaterreleased minute oxygen bubbles, thus reducing the degree of saturation of the specimens. The uniformity of a specimen was confirmed with S wave velocity measurements and a high-resolution digital camera. The P wave velocity measurements could only confirm the presence of partial saturation but not the degree of saturation. Partially saturated specimens with varying relative densities and degrees of saturation when tested under a range of cyclic shear strains do not achieve initial liquefaction defined by maximum pore pressure ratio (ru,max) being 1.0. For a given degree of saturation and cyclic shear strain amplitude, the larger the relative density, the smaller is ru,max. For a given degree of saturation and relative density, the larger the shear strain amplitude, the larger is ru,max. The excess pore pressure ratio (ru) can be significantly smaller than ru,max depending on the number of cycles of shear strain. Tests on the sustainability of partial saturation under upward flow gradient and base excitation led to the conclusion that the specimens remained partially saturated without significant change in the degree of saturation. Based on the experimental test results presented in this paper, an empirical model for the prediction of ru in partially saturated sands under earthquake excitation is presented in a companion paper. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0000815. © 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers. CE Database subject headings: Soil liquefaction; Soil treatment; Saturated soils; Sand (soil type); Pore pressure; Cyclic tests; Entrainment; Bubbles; Experimentation. Authorkeywords:Soilliquefaction;Soiltreatment;Saturation;Porepressure;Cyclictests;Entrainment;Bubbles;Inducedpartialsaturation; Liquefaction mitigation; Bender elements; Bending disks.

Safranbolu where is recognized as the capital of protection in Turkey,has become a tourist town as a consequence of the efforts along the yearsbetween 1975-2016. Although there are three urban protected sites in the city, tourismactivities are concentrated within the Çarşı zone. Many problems of this zoneare tried to be overcome through the conservation based development plan. Themain problem which the visitors are forced to suffer, is the inadequacy ofparking lots. Particularly on weekends and holidays, serious difficulties areexperienced for finding parking lot within the Çarşı zone. In this study, it isaimed to analyze the parking lot problem within Safranbolu Çarşı zone and to proposealternative solutions for that parking lot problem. As a result of the study,it was concluded that the available parking lot spaces were inadequate withinthe Çarşı zone and that the parking lot model built around the concept of the conservationbased development plan would not provide solution. With this study, threedifferent approaches were introduced in order to lead to the solution of theparking lot problem within the Safranbolu Çarşı zone., Türkiye’de korumanın başkentiolarak kabul edilen Safranbolu, 1975-2016 yılları arasında ortaya konulançabaların bir ürünü olarak turizm kenti durumuna gelmiştir. Kentte üç kentselsit alanı bulunmakla birlikte turistik faaliyetlerin yoğunlaştığı alan çarşıbölgesidir. Bu alanın pek çok sorunu koruma amaçlı imar planı aracılığıylaçözülmeye çalışılmaktadır. Ziyaretçilerin alanda yaşadıkları sorunların başındaotopark yetersizliği gelmektedir. Çarşı bölgesinde özellikle hafta sonlarındave bayramlarda araç park yeri bulma konusunda ciddi sıkıntılar yaşanılmaktadır.Bu çalışmada Safranbolu Çarşı Bölgesi’nde otopark sorununun analizi vealternatif çözüm yollarının geliştirilmesi amaçlanmıştır. Çalışma sonucundaçarşı bölgesinde mevcut otopark alanlarının yetersiz olduğu, koruma amaçlı imarplanında geliştirilen otopark modelinin çözüm sağlamayacağı bulgularınaulaşılmıştır. Bu çalışma ile Safranbolu’da otopark sorunun çözümüne ışıktutacak üç farklı yaklaşım ortaya konulmuştur.

Bu calismada binek araclarda kullanilan gazli pistonlu bagaj kapagi acma-kapama mekanizmalari teorik ve deneysel olarak incelenmistir. Oncelikle bir dort cubuk mekanizmasi oldugu acikca gorulen bu mekanizmanin konum analizi yapilmistir. Daha sonra virtuel isler ilkesine gore sanki-statik analizler yapilmis ve boylece ergonomi acisindan en onemli parametrelerden biri olan kapagi acma ve kapama icin gerekli el kuvveti hesaplanmistir. Kurulan bu modeli dogrulamak icin Turk Otomobil Fabrikasi A. S. (TOFAS)’ de mevcut olan bir arac uzerinde fiziksel testler yapilarak el kuvveti deneysel olarak da tespit edilmistir. Nihayetinde, matematiksel modelden elde edilen sonuclar ile deneysel olcumlerden elde edilen sonuclarin uyumlu oldugu gorulmustur. Kurulan bu model farkli model araclar icin el kuvvetinin bulunmasinda ureticilere kolaylik saglayacaktir.

In this study, the gas piston actuated opening-closing trunk lid mechanisms used in passenger cars are investigated theoretically and experimentally. First, the position analysis of the mechanism which is a four-bar linkage has been carried out. Then the quasi-static analyzes according to the principle of virtual work have been made, and so the hand force, one of the most important parameters in terms of ergonomics, required for opening and closing the trunk lid has been calculated. In order to verify this developed model, the hand force has been determined also experimentally, performing the physical tests on an existing vehicle at Turkish Automobile Factory Inc. (TOFAŞ). Eventually, it is observed that the results obtained from mathematical model and the experimental measurements are compatible each other. This established model will provide convenience for manufacturers to determine the hand force for different model of vehicles., Bu çalışmada binek araçlarda kullanılan gazlı pistonlu bagaj kapağı açma-kapama mekanizmaları teorik ve deneysel olarak incelenmiştir. Öncelikle bir dört çubuk mekanizması olduğu açıkça görülen bu mekanizmanın konum analizi yapılmıştır. Daha sonra virtuel işler ilkesine göre sanki-statik analizler yapılmış ve böylece ergonomi açısından en önemli parametrelerden biri olan kapağı açma ve kapama için gerekli el kuvveti hesaplanmıştır. Kurulan bu modeli doğrulamak için Türk Otomobil Fabrikası A. Ş. (TOFAŞ)’ de mevcut olan bir araç üzerinde fiziksel testler yapılarak el kuvveti deneysel olarak da tespit edilmiştir. Nihayetinde, matematiksel modelden elde edilen sonuçlar ile deneysel ölçümlerden elde edilen sonuçların uyumlu olduğu görülmüştür. Kurulan bu model farklı model araçlar için el kuvvetinin bulunmasında üreticilere kolaylık sağlayacaktır.

Over the past two decades, important advancements have been made in earthquake engineering practice aimed at reducing seismic risk to urban communities worldwide. Since earthquakes occur infrequently and often in unpredictable locations, the role of experimental research in these advancements has been invaluable. Experimental tests performed under controlled environment can provide high quality data that can advance fundamental knowledge of the behavior of geotechnical and structural elements, validate analytical models, and help explore development of innovative, cost-effective seismic mitigation technologies. It has become evident also that implementation of and investment in seismic risk reduction technologies to vulnerable urban communities requires heightened awareness at all levels of society of the earthquake risk. The authors have found that a shaking table facility while providing valuable research opportunities, is also ideally suited for educational and outreach activities tailored for regional communities and media to heighten their awareness of earthquake risk and demonstrate the important role engineers play in seismic mitigation. The shaking table utilized is uni-directional (1.5 m × 2 m) and has 254 mm peak to peak lateral displacement capacity. The shaking table has been crucial in many research projects in areas such as structural and soil isolation, dynamic interface properties of geosynthetics, seismic permanent deformations, and liquefaction mitigation. The facility is also utilized weekly, as well as at times of heightened public and media interest in earthquake damage, to present various educational modules and carry out shaking table model demonstrations. This paper and presentation will focus on highlights of research conducted using the shaking table and how the facility has been integrated into formal and community-wide educational and outreach programs.

The aim of this study was to analyze and evaluate the psychological adaptation problems of foreign students, who have come to Turkey to receive higher education at a state university, in terms of the variables of cultural distance perceptions, social support perceptions, acculturation attitudes, general state of health, self-efficacy beliefs and life satisfaction. Psychological adaptations of foreign students were examined within the framework of Berry’s (1997) theory of acculturation. The relational study model, one of the general study types, was used in the study. The population of the study consisted of foreign students who are studying at a state university. Since the study aims to reach the whole population, no sample was chosen for the study. The total number of foreign students was 146 in the 2014-2015 academic year. Psychological adaptations of the students were examined with the variables of age, acculturation attitudes, perceived social support, cultural distance, self-efficacy and duration of stay in Turkey. The quantitative data were analyzed via the SPSS 21 package software. The findings of the study showed that the answers that foreign students have given to the life satisfaction scale are at the level of “slightly agree” in both genders. The answers that they have given to the general health scale about how their health is now and has been recently in general are at the level of “less than usual”. The most important variable that predicts the psychological adaptations of students is acculturation attitudes. Among the acculturation attitudes, the students preferred the integration attitude. According to the results of the classification by geographical region, there are similarities in the categories of religious beliefs, family life, customs, world-views, social activities and standards of living of the foreign students. However, there are differences in the categories of clothing, mode of communication, values, and friendship, language, and food culture.

WOS: 000281347600021, Al2O3-ZrO2 nanocomposite was prepared in tartaric, glycolic and citric acids by a simple gel method. The surface areas of the samples were changed from 58 m(2)/g to 278 m(2)/g. The average crystallite size of nanocomposite heat treated at 1000 degrees C was less than 10 nm and also tetragonal zirconia phase without transformation to monoclinic phase, which remained in the alumina matrix close to 1500 degrees C according to X-ray results. However, monoclinic phase was observed from Raman spectra of samples heated at 1500 degrees C. The prepared gel and subsequent heat-treated powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to get detailed information regarding differentiation of polymorphs of zirconia as well as formation of powders. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved., Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK)Turkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [107M367], The financial supports provided by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK, project no: 107M367) are gratefully acknowledged. The authors also thank Professor Noriaki Nakayama at Yamaguchi University and Professor Masahiro Yoshimura at Tokyo Institute of Technology for their help on TEM and Raman measurements, respectively.

There has been no commonsense on how to identify problem domain concerns in architectural modeling of software systems. Even, there is no commonly accepted method for modeling the non-functional requirements (NFRs) effectively associated with the architectural aspects in the solution domain. This paper introduces the use of a machine learning (ML) method based on support vector machines to relate NFRs to classified "architectural concerns" in an automated way. This method uses natural language processing techniques to fragment the plain NFR texts under the supervision of domain experts. The contribution of this approach lies in continuously applying ML techniques against previously discovered ldquoNFR - architectural concernsrdquo associations to improve the intelligence of repositories for requirements engineering. The paper illustrates a charted roadmap and demonstrates the automated requirements engineering toolset for this roadmap. It also validates the approach and effectiveness of the toolset on the snapshot of a real-life project.

A cyclic simple shear liquefaction box (CSSLB) was designed and manufactured to allow laboratory testing of saturated sands under cyclic or transient strain-controlled conditions. The box accommodates pore water pressure transducers, linear variable displacement trans- ducers, and bender elements and bending disks. To induce shear strains, the box has two rotating walls connected to two translating rigid walls with a flexible sealant. When the tops of the rotating walls are fixed against translation and the base of the CSSLB, which rests on a shaking table, is excited with a displacement time history, shear strains are induced in a soil specimen. Two-dimensional numerical analyses of plan and elevation sections of the CSSLB were performed, demonstrating that the design of the box and the mechanism for shearing can induce controlled shear strains in sand specimens with minimal boundary effects. Example test results from sand specimens subjected to cyclic and earthquake shear strain time histories are presented and illustrate how well the CSSLB with its instrumentation is suited for conducting tests on relatively large soil specimens.