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This study presents a semi-automatic algorithm for mapping floods. Both Optical and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data are used to observe the flood that hit the Cukurova region of Adana (Turkey) in 2019. The performance of the interferometric coherence in complementing intensity component of SAR data is investigated for mapping the floods occurred in agricultural and urban environments. There was no ground truth data available from the flooded area, thus classification result of optical satellite image is used as a seed for the region growing algorithm that defines the classes according to a threshold value. The advantage of using both intensity and coherence change detection is verified with the results. The results have been evaluated through very high-resolution SPOT-6 optical image which acquired simultaneously with Sentinel-1B SAR image. The comparison with the SPOT-6 data results shows that the proposed approach can map flooded areas with acceptable accuracy using the SAR data from Sentinel-1 satellite mission. Highly affected agricultural areas along with the river line could be mapped both by optical and SAR analysis. Comparison of results from VV and VH polarization provided that cross-polarization VH has a very little effect on flood mapping. The proposed algorithm successfully distinguishes the classes among the affected region, especially in urban areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban land cover/use changes like urbanization and urban sprawl have been impacting the urban ecosystems significantly therefore determination of urban land cover/use changes is an important task to understand trends and status of urban ecosystems, to support urban planning and to aid decision-making for urban-based projects. High resolution satellite images could be used to accurately, periodically and quickly map urban land cover/use and their changes by time. This paper aims to determine urban land cover/use changes in Gaziantep city centre between 2010 and 2105 using object based images analysis and high resolution SPOT 5 and SPOT 6 images. 2.5 m SPOT 5 image obtained in 5th of June 2010 and 1.5 m SPOT 6 image obtained in 7th of July 2015 were used in this research to precisely determine land changes in five-year period. In addition to satellite images, various ancillary data namely Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Difference Water Index (NDWI) maps, cadastral maps, OpenStreetMaps, road maps and Land Cover maps, were integrated into the classification process to produce high accuracy urban land cover/use maps for these two years. Both images were geometrically corrected to fulfil the 1/10,000 scale geometric accuracy. Decision tree based object oriented classification was applied to identify twenty different urban land cover/use classes defined in European Urban Atlas project. Not only satellite images and satellite image-derived indices but also different thematic maps were integrated into decision tree analysis to create rule sets for accurate mapping of each class. Rule sets of each satellite image for the object based classification involves spectral, spatial and geometric parameter to automatically produce urban map of the city centre region. Total area of each class per related year and their changes in five-year period were determined and change trend in terms of class transformation were presented. Classification accuracy assessment was conducted by creating a confusion matrix to illustrate the thematic accuracy of each class. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal zones are exposed to erosion due to natural and human-induced activities around the world. The land use of the coastal zone in the northern part of Istanbul, Turkey, has been changing due to open-pit coal mining begun in 1980. The objective of this study is to determine the changes that occurred in a selected coastal zone by utilizing interpretations of multi-temporal LANDSAT satellite data. Satellite images of the zone taken during the years 1984, 1992, and 2001 were transformed to the universal transverse mercator (UTM) coordinate system, and 17 bands of images for each of these years were interpreted using layer-stack method. A new red, green, and blue (RGB) image including infrared band of each year was created. These findings show that 304.7 ha area of sea was filled with soil between years 1984 and 1992. However, the total area filled between 1984 and 2001 was only 67.7 ha, due to the fact that 237.0 ha was removed by coastal erosion after year 1992. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the figure condition method was introduced to analyse the accuracy of geometric correction. Figure condition denotes the transformation ability of estimated model parameters for a given transformation model, and it can be used in a geometric correction procedure. To study the figure condition, multisensor satellite images were geometrically corrected using ground control points obtained by different methods. The accuracy of each geometric model was analysed by means of the root mean square error of unit weight and variance-covariance matrix of unknown parameters. Then, an error propagation law was applied to the geometric model in order to investigate the transformation ability of the model parameters and estimate error values of geometric correction for the whole image surface. The results of the research demonstrated that the figure condition can be applied to geometric correction, and error values of the whole study area can be obtained with this new approach without using check points. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A response by E. Sertel, H. K. Cigizoglu, and D.U. Sanli to a letter to the editor about their article "Estimating Daily Mean Sea Level Heights Using Artificial Neural Networks" in the 2008 issue is presented.

Objective: This study aimed to compare emergency and planned cesarean section cases in pregnancies complicated with placenta previa (PP) and subgroups with and without placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) in terms of obstetric, neonatal, and surgical outcomes., Materials and Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 128 patients diagnosed with PP who underwent cesarean section. Obstetric, neonatal, and surgical outcomes of all cases with PP and subgroups with and without PAS were compared according to whether they were emergency or planned cesarean section., Results: Of the 128 women with PP, 60 planned and 68 underwent emergency cesarean section. In all patients with PP and in the PAS and non-PAS subgroups, the neonatal outcomes of patients who underwent emergency cesarean section were more negative than those of patients who underwent planned cesarean section. It was observed that more hysterectomy were performed in the emergency group than in the elective group in all patients with PP and PAS patients (p=0.027 and p=0.012 respectively). It was observed that patients with PP and non-PAS were hospitalized after cesarean section for a longer period of time in the emergency group than in the planned group (p=0.044 and p=0.002 respectively)., Conclusion: Planned cesarean section leads to better obstetric, neonatal, and surgical outcomes compared with emergency cesarean section in pregnancies complicated by PP, especially in those with PAS. Our findings suggest that planned delivery strategies should be considered for patients with PP. Decisions regarding the timing of delivery should balance maternal risks and benefits with fetal and fetal risks and benefits., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest: No conflict of interest was declared by the authors., (Copyright© 2024 The Author. Published by Galenos Publishing House on behalf of Turkish Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology.)

Aim: To evaluate the effects of COVID-19 disease and the trimester in which the disease is diagnosed on obstetric and neonatal outcomes., Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted with 358 patients who had or had not been diagnosed with COVID-19 during their pregnancy, had a miscarriage or had given birth., Results: COVID-19 disease during pregnancy was associated with higher maternal hypertensive disease, preterm birth, low birth weight, low first- and fifth-minute Apgar scores, and need for neonatal intensive care unit. The incidence of preterm birth, low birth weight, low first- and fifth-minute Apgar scores, and need for neonatal intensive care unit in those diagnosed with COVID-19 in the second trimester was significantly higher than those diagnosed with COVID-19 in other trimesters. The frequency of cesarean section was observed most in those diagnosed with COVID-19 in the 3rd trimester, while it was observed in those diagnosed with COVID-19 at least in the first trimester., Conclusion: The presence of COVID-19 during pregnancy may be associated with an increased risk of iatrogenic preterm birth. The frequency of preterm birth in pregnant women diagnosed with COVID-19 in the second trimester is higher than in pregnant women diagnosed with COVID-19 in other trimesters. As the pregnancy trimester at the time of diagnosis progresses, the frequency of cesarean section increases. While the risk of maternal hypertensive disease increases more in pregnant women with COVID-19, the effect of the trimester in which COVID-19 was passed on the risk of maternal hypertensive disease is not observed., (© 2022 Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology.)

Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate the place of serum soluble L1 cell adhesion molecule (sL1CAM) level in the diagnosis of endometrial cancer and its relationship with clinicopathological features., Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed with 146 patients who underwent endometrial biopsy and whose pathology results were reported as benign endometrial changes (n = 30), endometrial hyperplasia (n = 32) or endometrial cancer (n = 84). The sL1CAM level between the groups was compared. The relationship between clinicopathological features and serum sL1CAM was evaluated in patients with endometrial cancer., Results: The mean serum sL1CAM level in patients with endometrial cancer was significantly higher than in patients without cancer. The sL1CAM value was statistically significantly higher in the group with endometrial cancer, than the group with endometrial hyperplasia (p < 0.001) and the group with benign endometrial changes (p < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in terms of sL1CAM between the group of patients with endometrial hyperplasia and the group of patients with benign endometrial changes (p = 0.954). sL1CAM value in type 2 endometrial cancer was statistically significantly higher than Type1 (p = 0.019). High sL1CAM level in patients with type 1 cancer was associated with poor clinicopathological features. However, no correlation was observed between clinicopathological features and serum sL1CAM level in type 2 endometrial cancers., Conclusions: Serum sL1CAM may be an important marker for evaluating the diagnosis and prognosis of endometrial cancer in the future. There may be a relationship between increased serum sL1CAM level in type 1 endometrial cancers and poor clinicopathological features.

Land surface of the Earth has been changing as a result of human induced activities and natural processes. Accurate representation of landscape characteristics and precise determination of spatio-temporal changes provide valuable inputs for environmental models, landscape and urban planning, and historical land cover change analysis. This study aims to determine historical land use and land cover (LULC) changes using multi-modal geospatial data, which are the cadastral maps produced in 1858, monochrome aerial photographs obtained in 1955, and multi-spectral WorldView-3 satellite images of 2020. We investigated two pilot regions, Aksu and Kestel towns in Bursa/Turkey, to analyze the long-term LULC changes quantitatively and to understand the driving forces that caused the changes. We propose methods to facilitate the preparation of historical datasets for the LULC change detection and present an object-oriented joint classification scheme for multi-source datasets to accurately map the spatio-temporal changes. Our approach minimized the amount of manual digitizing required for the boundary delineation of LULC classes from historical geospatial data. Also, our quantitative analysis of LULC maps indicates diverging developments for the selected locations in the long period of 162 years. We observed rural depopulation and gradual afforestation in Aksu; whereas, agricultural land abandonment and deforestation in Kestel., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Lithium, in addition to its effect on acute and long-term bipolar disorder, is involved in neuroprotection after ischemic stroke. Yet, its mechanism of action is still poorly understood, which was only limited to its modulatory effect on GSK pathway. Therefore, we initially analyzed the dose-dependent effects of lithium on neurological deficits, infarct volume, brain edema and blood-brain barrier integrity, along with neuronal injury and survival in mice subjected to focal cerebral ischemia. Thereafter, we investigated the involvement of the PI3K/Akt and MEK signal transduction pathways and their components. Our observations revealed that 2 mmol/kg lithium significantly improved post-ischemic brain tissue survival. Although, 2 mmol/kg lithium had no negative effect on brain microcirculation, 5 and 20 mmol/kg lithium reduced brain perfusion. Furthermore, supratherapeutic dose of lithium in 20 mmol/kg lead to animal death. In addition, improvement of brain perfusion with L-arginine, did not change the effect of 5 mmol/kg lithium on brain injury. Additionally, post-stroke blood-brain barrier leakage, hemodynamic impairment and apoptosis have been reversed by lithium treatment. Interestingly, lithium-induced neuroprotection was associated with increased phosphorylation of Akt at Thr308 and suppressed GSK-3β phosphorylation at Ser9 residue. Lithium upregulated Erk-2 and downregulated JNK-2 phosphorylation. To distinguish whether neuroprotective effects of lithium are modulated by PI3K/Akt or MEK, we sequentially blocked these pathways and demonstrated that the neuroprotective activity of lithium persisted during MEK/ERK inhibition, whereas PI3K/Akt inhibition abolished neuroprotection. Collectively, we demonstrated lithium exerts its post-stroke neuroprotective activity via the PI3K/Akt pathway, specifically via Akt phosphorylation at Thr308, but not via MEK/ERK., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Cantrell's pentalogy is a congenital multiple malformation consisting of midline supraumbilical thoraco-abdominal wall defects, anterior and pericardial diaphragm defects, lower sternum defects, ectopia cordis and various intracardiac anomalies. Complete pentalogy is very rare. Some additional anomalies may accompany pentalogy and there are cases in the literature where chromosomal anomalies and pentalogy are seen. Cases of Cantrell's pentalogy in twin pregnancies are rare. Twin pregnancies with Cantrell's pentalogy in both fetuses are one of the rarest cases in the literature. In this study, we presented a twin pregnancy case with Cantrell's pentalogy in both fetuses and we reviewed twin pregnancy cases in which Cantrell's pentalogy was seen in the literature. In our case, anomalies were found in both fetuses in the evaluation performed on a 32-year-old, gravida 2, para 1 woman with 10 weeks + 5 days monochorionic-monoamniotic twin pregnancy. The first fetus had ectopia cordis, cystic hygroma and increased nuchal thickness (4.6 mm), and the anterior abdominal wall was in contact with the amniotic band. The second fetus had ectopia cordis omphalocele, cystic hygroma, holoprosencephaly and a single lower extremity deficiency. Both fetuses were pre-diagnosed with Cantrell's pentalogy and the parents were informed about the adverse course of the fetuses. After the completion of the legal procedures, with the approval and decision of the parents, termination was made in the 11th week of pregnancy. External images of the fetuses confirmed the diagnosis. The family denied the autopsy procedure. When we review the literature, twin pregnancies complicated by Cantrell's pentalogy are divided into 3 groups: Group1- cases where one of the twins has completely normal phenotype and the other twin has Cantrell's pentalogy; Group2- cases where one of the twins has Cantrell's pentalogy and the other twin does not have the Cantrell's pentalogy but has several anomalies; Group3- cases where both fetuses have Cantrell's pentalogy. In conclusion, early diagnosis of twin pregnancy cases complicated by Cantrell's pentalogy and determination of all anomalies in both fetuses are very important in terms of obstetric management., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors report no declarations of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Low response of patients with diminished ovarian reserve to exogenous gonadotropins in controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) protocols is one of the important problems of reproductive endocrinology. Various treatment protocols have been developed in patients with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) or poor ovarian response (POR). Recently, the addition of growth hormone (GH) to treatment protocols has been brought to the agenda in these patients. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of GH adjuvant treatment on intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycle results in patients with DOR or POR. This retrospective cohort study was carried out with patients who diagnosed as DOR or POR and underwent ICSI. The patients were divided into the groups according to whether GH was used. In this study, ongoing pregnancy rates and live birth rates were observed to be significantly higher in the group receiving GH compared to the control group. In addition, there was a significant increase in embryo quality in the group receiving GH. As a result, the addition of GH to COS protocols in DOR and POR patients may increase the ongoing pregnancy rate, live birth rate, embryo quality., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Occurrence of stroke cases displays a time-of-day variation in human. However, the mechanism linking circadian rhythm to the internal response mechanisms against pathophysiological events after ischemic stroke remained largely unknown. To this end, temporal changes in the susceptibility to ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury were investigated in mice in which the ischemic stroke induced at four different Zeitgeber time points with 6-h intervals (ZT0, ZT6, ZT12, and ZT18). Besides infarct volume and brain swelling, neuronal survival, apoptosis, ischemia, and circadian rhythm related proteins were examined using immunohistochemistry, Western blot, planar surface immune assay, and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry tools. Here, we present evidence that midnight (ZT18; 24:00) I/R injury in mice resulted in significantly improved infarct volume, brain swelling, neurological deficit score, neuronal survival, and decreased apoptotic cell death compared with ischemia induced at other time points, which were associated with increased expressions of circadian proteins Bmal1, PerI, and Clock proteins and survival kinases AKT and Erk-1/2. Moreover, ribosomal protein S6, mTOR, and Bad were also significantly increased, while the levels of PRAS40, negative regulator of AKT and mTOR, and phosphorylated p53 were decreased at this time point compared to ZT0 (06:00). Furthermore, detailed proteomic analysis revealed significantly decreased CSKP, HBB-1/2, and HBA levels, while increased GNAZ, NEGR1, IMPCT, and PDE1B at midnight as compared with early morning. Our results indicate that nighttime I/R injury results in less severe neuronal damage, with increased neuronal survival, increased levels of survival kinases and circadian clock proteins, and also alters the circadian-related proteins.

Conflicting data in the literature about the function of P2X7R in survival following ischemia necessitates the conductance of in-depth studies. To investigate the impacts of activation vs inhibition of the receptor on neuronal survival as well as the downstream signaling cascades, in addition to optic nerve transection (ONT), 30min and 90min of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) models were performed in mice. Intracellular calcium levels were assessed in primary cortical neuron cultures. Here, we show that P2X7R antagonist Brilliant Blue G (BBG) decreased DNA fragmentation, infarct volume, brain swelling, neurological deficit scores and activation of microglial cells after focal cerebral ischemia. BBG also significantly increased the number of surviving retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) after ONT and the number of surviving neurons following MCAo. Importantly, receptor agonist BzATP resulted in increased activation of microglial cells and induced phosphorylation of ERK, AKT and JNK. These results indicated that inhibition of P2X7R with BBG promoted neuronal survival, not through the activation of survival kinase pathways, but possibly by improved intracellular Ca 2+ overload and decreased the levels of Caspase 1, IL-1β and Bax proteins. On the other hand, BzATP-mediated increased number of activated microglia and increased survival kinase levels in addition to increased caspase-1 and IL-1β levels indicate the complex nature of the P2X7 receptor-mediated signaling in neuronal injury., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

A devastating earthquake with a magnitude of Mw 7.4 occurred on the North Anatolian Fault Zone (NAFZ) of Turkey on August 17, 1999 at 00:01:39 UTC (3:01 a.m. local time). The aim of this study is to propose a new approach to automatically identify earthquake induced damage areas which can provide valuable information to support emergency response and recovery assessment procedures. This research was conducted in the Adapazari inner city, covering a 3 × 3 km area, where 11,373 buildings collapsed as a result of the earthquake. SPOT high resolution visible infrared (HRVIR) Pan images obtained before (25 June 1999) and after (4 October 1999) the earthquake were used in the study. Five steps were employed to conduct the research and these are: (i) geometric and radiometric correction of satellite images, (ii) Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) of pre- and post-earthquake images and filtering the images in frequency domain, (iii) generating difference image using Inverse Fast Fourier Transform (IFFT) pre- and post- earthquake images, (iv) application of level slicing to difference image to identify the earthquake-induced damages, (v) accuracy assessment of the method using ground truth obtained from a 1/5,000 scale damage map. The total accuracy obtained in the research is 80.19 %, illustrating that the proposed method can be successfully used to automatically identify earthquake-induced damage areas.