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In this study, it was aimed to compare scintigraphic split renal function (SRF) and computed tomographic (CT) kidney volumes by semiautomatic segmentation method in predicting graft functions after kidney transplantation.One hundred and twelve patients (77 males, 35 females) who had a living-donor kidney transplant between 2015 and 2017 in our centre were included in the study. While SRF was calculated with technetium-99m-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (CT-volumetric measurements, especially renal cortical volume (RCV: 103.8 ± 20 ml) and ratio to body mass index (RCV/BMI: 4.45 ± 1.3) were found to be more significant thanIn our study, it was shown that CT-based renal volumetric measurements, especially RCV and RCV/BMI, predicted graft functions more strongly than scintigraphic

Background The aim of this study was to retrospectively assess short-term neurological outcomes in pediatric stroke with regard to patient characteristics. Methods Children aged 28 days-18 years with arterial ischemic stroke (AIS), cerebral sinovenous thrombosis (CSVT), and hemorrhagic stroke (HS) between 2007 and 2013 were evaluated. Neurological findings in the first 3 months were accepted as short-term prognosis, and modified Rankin scale was used. Results A total of 33 patients (62%) with AIS, 12 (23%) with HS, and eight (15%) with CSVT were included. Moya moya syndrome was the most common new diagnosis in AIS. Stroke recurred in five (15%); and one AIS patient with posterior circulation infarct died (3%). Prognosis in AIS was favorable for 20 patients (61%) and poor for 13 patients (39%). Forty-two percent of HS were of vascular origin. Seven patients (70%) with HS had good prognosis and three (30%) had poor prognosis with no death. Homocysteine-related hypercoagulability was most frequently noted in the etiology of CSVT. Synchronous systemic thrombosis was observed in three CSVT patients (37.5%) and death occurred in two (25%). Prognosis was evaluated as favorable for three CSVT patients (37.5%) and poor for five (62.5%). For thrombophilia, thrombosis panel was performed fully in 83% of AIS and CSVT patients. Conclusions Pediatric stroke is associated with a poor prognosis in a substantial number of patients in the short term, with CSVT having the worst prognosis. Detailed patient characteristics are listed not only for ischemic but also for hemorrhagic stroke; and a full thrombosis panel was achieved for most ischemic stroke patients.

Die Optimierung der Museumsbeleuchtung basiert auf der gleichzeitigen Berucksichtigung energetischer, beleuchtungstechnischer, farbmetrischer und konservatorischer Aspekte, die sich auf den ersten Blick unter Umstanden widersprechen. Am Beispiel des Berliner “Bode-Museums“ konnte gezeigt werden, dass der Ersatz der bisher verwendeten HGL- durch LED-Leuchten eine Reduzierung des Energieumsatzes um bis zu 70 % ermoglicht. Im gedimmten Betrieb kann sich dieser Wert aufgrund der besser geeigneten Dimmkennlinie der LEDs noch weiter erhohen. Gleichzeitig ist mit einer verringerten Objektschadigung durch UV- und kurzwellige sichtbare Strahlung und deutlich verringerter thermischer Belastung der Objekte durch IR-Strahlung zu rechnen. Auserdem ermoglicht die Kombination verschiedener LEDs in einer Leuchte eine variable Lichtfarbe mit sehr guter Farbwiedergabe. Bei der Auswahl der LED-Losungen ist eine Abwagung der konservatorischen Anforderungen unerlasslich, als einfachstes Bewertungskriterium kann dabei die ahnlichste Farbtemperatur herangezogen werden. Werden alle diese Gesichtspunkte berucksichtigt, ermoglicht die LED-Technik erstmals die Kombination einer energieeffizienten verbesserten Beleuchtung bei gleichzeitig verbessertem Objektschutz. Optimized lighting for the Bode-Museum in Berlin. The optimization of museum lighting is based on energetic, luminous, colorimetric and conservation aspects, which seems to contradict each other in part. As an example the energy expenditure of the illumination of the “Bode-Museum” could be reduced by up to 70 % when replacing conventional HGL- by LED-luminaires. In dimmed mode, this value may increase even further due to a more appropriate dimming characteristic of LED. This is accompanied by a reduced damage by UV radiation and short wavelength part of the visible radiation and at the same time without thermal loading of objects by IR radiation. In addition, the combination of different LED in one luminaire creates a variable luminous colour with very good colour rendering properties. The consideration of the conservation requirements is essential when choosing the correct LED-lighting, for a simple evaluation criterion the correlated colour temperature can be used. If all these aspects are taken into account, the LED technology enables the combination of enhanced energy-efficient lighting with improved preservation requirements.

Fur eine zuverlassige Tageslichtplanung im Innenraum ist die genaue Kenntnis insbesondere uber die bi-direktionalen Kennzahlen (raumliche Verteilung des Leuchtdichtekoeffizienten q in Abhangigkeit des Lichteinfalls) der Tageslichtsysteme unverzichtbar. Es wird eine Methode mit Beispielen (RETROLux-Tageslichtsysteme) vorgestellt, bei der die gemessenen Verteilungen des Leuchtdichtekoeffizienten konvertiert werden, so dass die Ergebnisse in konventionellen Lichtplanungstools wie DIALux oder Relux importiert werden konnen, um lichttechnische Berechnungen mit photorealistischen Darstellungen durchzufuhren. Integration of luminous characteristics into lighting design tools using the example of an innovative sun protection system. For reliable daylighting design in interior, precise knowledge is essential in particular on the bi-directional characteristics (spatial distribution of luminance coefficient q as a function of the light incidence) of the daylighting systems. A new method is presented with examples (RETROLux-daylighting systems), in which the measured distributions of luminance coefficients are converted, so that the results can be imported into conventional lighting design tools such as DIALux and Relux to perform calculations with photo-realistic representations.

Der Energiebedarf von Gebauden ist in den letzten Jahren durch die Vorgabe von EU-Richtlinien und durch nationale Normen begrenzt worden und erfordert eine entsprechende Bewertung der Gebaude zum Nachweis der jeweiligen Energiebedarfszahlen. Dies ist auch auf offentliche Gebaude wie Museen umzusetzen. Die Themenschwerpunkte Heizung, Kuhlung, Behaglichkeit, Lebenszyklusanalyse, konservatorische Klimaanforderungen, Luftung, Stromungssimulation, Bausubstanzerhaltung und Raumakustik werden in einem Verbundprojekt des BMWi behandelt. Zusatzlich ist erganzend die Umsetzung der energetisch optimierten Beleuchtung und Erkennbarkeit in abgesicherte Planungsvorschlage zu erarbeiten. Dies gilt sowohl fur den Einsatz neuer Lampen- und Vorschalttechnik als auch fur den kombinierten Einsatz der Tageslichttechnik und elektronischer Kontrollsysteme. Energy-efficient lighting in museums, taking conservation into account. Energy demand in buildings has been restricted in recent years by EU Directives and national standards. Buildings now need to be assessed as proof that they meet the relevant energy demand requirements. These assessments must also be performed on public buildings, including museums. As part of a collaborative project, the BMWi (Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology) is currently addressing the issues of heating, cooling, comfort, life-cycle analysis, conservation-related requirements for air-conditioning, ventilation, flow simulation, structural preservation and acoustics. The project will also involve the development of definitive design guidance for implementing lighting and visibility with maximum energy efficiency. This will cover both new lamp and ballast technology and the combined use of daylight technology with electronic control systems.

Die wissenschaftlich-technischen Arbeitsziele dieses vom Bundesministerium fur Wirtschaft (BMWi) geforderten Projektes wurden in funf Teilen erarbeitet. Die einzelnen Themen resultieren aus aktuellen Fragestellungen; sie haben dennoch einen allgemein anwendbaren Charakter. Das Konsortium hat die folgenden Teilprojekte bearbeitet: (1) Aufbau einer Messtechnik zur Bestimmung energetischer und lichttechnischer Kennzahlen von Tageslichtbauteilen mit einem round robin test, an dem drei Institute beteiligt waren. (2) Realisierung eines detaillierten Bewertungs- und Nachweisverfahrens fur die Tageslichtversorgung von Innenraumen in unterschiedlichen Klimazonen. (3) Fur die Beleuchtungskontrolle privater Lebensraume wurde ein “Powerline Carrier Communication“-System evaluiert und die Vorteile gegenuber einem Funkubertragungssystem herausgearbeitet. (4) In einem Pflegeheim wurden quantitative Untersuchungen zum Wohlbefinden, zur Erfullung von Sehaufgaben und zur Eignung zur Melatoninsuppression bei verschiedenen Szenarien der Allgemeinbeleuchtung mit zwei unterschiedlichen Farbtemperaturen der eingesetzten Lampen (“warmweises Licht“ mit TCP = 3000 K und “kaltweises Tageslicht“ mit TCP = 6500 K) und vertikalen Beleuchtungsstarken an den Augen der Probanden zwischen 100 lx und 700 lx durchgefuhrt. (5) Fur zwei Schulgebaude in Berlin wurde der Endenergiebedarf der Bestandsanlage, des Referenzgebaudes sowie der Neuplanung ermittelt. Dabei wurde in beiden Beispielen deutlich, dass die Bestandsanlage im Bereich der Beleuchtung den zulassigen Wert nach EnEV 2009 mitunter weit uberschreitet. Eine gute Neuplanung hingegen kann den maximal zulassigen Wert deutlich unterschreiten. Diese Untersuchungen wurden von einem einjahrigen Monitoring des Energieumsatzes begleitet. Eine Querschnittsanalyse uber 48 Schulen mit insgesamt 86 Gebauden zeigt unter anderem einen erheblichen Sanierungsbedarf bei Schulgebauden, die vor 1990 errichtet wurden. Energy optimised lighting in buildings with simultaneous improvement of quality of life by daylight utilisation and innovative lamps and ballast techniques. The scientific and technical goals of this project were developed in five parts. The individual topics arising from current issues, they still have a generally applicable nature. The consortium has worked on the following subprojects: (1) Development of a measurement technique to determine energy and photometric key figures of daylight components with a round robin test with three institutes. (2) Implementation of a detailed evaluation and documentation process for daylighting of interior spaces in different climate zones. (3) For lighting control in private living areas a “Power Line Carrier Communication” system has been evaluated and the advantages of a wireless transmission system were identified. (4) In a home for elderly quantitative studies on the well-being, for the fulfillment of visual tasks and the capability of melatonin suppression at different scenarios of general lighting with two different color temperatures of lamps (“warm white” with TCP = 3000 K and “cold white daylight” with TCP = 6500 K) and vertical illuminance at the eyes of the subjects between 100 lx and 700 lx were performed. (5) For two school buildings in Berlin, the final energy consumption of the existing lighting system, the reference building and a re-planning were determined. It became clear in both examples that the existing lighting system exceeds the permitted value (EnEV 2009) by far. A good redesign, however, can be significantly less than the maximum allowed value. These studies were accompanied by a one-year monitoring of energy consumption. A cross-sectional analysis of 48 schools with a total of 86 buildings shows a substantial need for renovation of school buildings that were built before 1990.

PROBLEM In this baseline study, our aim is to show the relationship of parameters and gonad hormones in menopausal and postmenopausal women. METHOD Blood samples were taken from menopausal and postmenopausal women (12-14 months and ≥10 years, respectfully, since their last menstruation). Adolescents aged 13.7 ± 0.7 were used as controls. Hormones were measured by ELISA and percentages of CD45, CD4, CD8, CD3, CD19, IL-2, CD25 and HLA-DR were measured by flow cytometry. RESULTS Both groups showed an increase in the percentage of CD3, CD4 and CD8. Levels of CD19 were significantly lower in the postmenopausal group. However, changes in immunologic parameters during menopause were less marked than the hormonal changes observed in these groups. Most of the correlations LH × CD3 (-ve), LH × IL2R (-ve) and E2 × CD19 (+ve) suggesting how menopausal women with particularly high LH or low E2 levels may be affected. Only CD3 and HLA-DR correlated with the hormonal changes in the postmenopausal group. IL-2 levels were high in the menopausal group and low in the postmenopausal group; however, no correlation was observed. DISCUSSION Menopause is characterized by increased levels of IL-2, which has critical immune-modulatory effects. These changes may be related to the overall hormonal change process observed during menopause.

Background: Convulsive status epilepticus (CSE) may end fatally or leave serious sequelae. CSE treatment, invariably an emergency case, is based upon i.v. benzodiazepines as well as phenytoin, barbiturates or both. The present paper reports efficiency of lidocaine in CSE. Methods: The effects of lidocaine on patients with CSE due to infectious and non-infectious reasons were compared. Lidocaine was given in 29 episodes of CSE to 49 patients having failed to respond to first-line anticonvulsive drugs, such as diazepam, phenobarbital and phenytoin therapy. Lidocaine was given in doses of 2 mg/kg bolus i.v., and then in 4 mg/kg per h infusion. Results: Mean duration of lidocaine infusion was 14.6 ± 7.8 h. Effectiveness of lidocaine in patients with CSE was found to be 44.4%. Also, 11 patients responded to a single dose of lidocaine (37.9%), while another two (6.9%) required another dose to suppress their seizures. Patients with seizures attributable to infections were observed to have responded favorably to lidocaine when compared to those with seizures due to epilepsy (37.9% vs 6.8%; P

Childhood-onset spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is one of the most common neurodegenerative genetic disorders. SMN1 is the SMA-determining gene deleted or mutated in the majority of SMA cases. There is no effective cure or treatment for this disease yet. Thus, the availability of prenatal testing is important. Here we report prenatal prediction for 68 fetuses in 63 Turkish SMA families using direct deletion analysis of the SMN1 gene by restriction digestion. The genotype of the index case was known in 40 families (Group A) but unknown in the remaining 23 families (Group B). A total of ten fetuses were predicted to be affected. Eight of these fetuses were derived from Group A and two of these fetuses were from Group B families. Two fetuses from the same family in Group A had the SMNhyb1 gene in addition to homozygous deletion of the NAIP gene. One fetus from Group A was homozygously deleted for only exon 8 of the SMN2 gene, and further analysis showed the presence of both the SMN1 and SMNhyb1 genes but not the SMN2 gene. In addition, one carrier with a homozygous deletion of only exon 8 of the SMN1 gene was detected to have a SMNhyb2 gene, which was also found in the fetus. To our knowledge, these are the first prenatal cases with SMNhyb genes. Follow-up studies demonstrated that the prenatal predictions and the phenotype of the fetuses correlated well in 33 type I pregnancies demonstrating that a careful molecular analysis of the SMN genes is very useful in predicting the phenotype of the fetus in families at risk for SMA. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Aim: To define clinical features of patients with alternating hemiplegia of childhood. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical presentation and course of the disease in patients diagnosed between January 2003 and December 2008 at the Pediatric Neurology Department of the Istanbul Medical Faculty. Results: The nine patients had a mean age of 6.6 months (2–15 months) at the onset of symptoms. Paroxysmal eye movements were the early symptom of five patients. All patients had recurrent alternating hemiplegic episodes and relief of symptoms while sleeping. Duration of events varied widely from few minutes to several days and was associated with slowly progressive neurological deterioration. Flunarizine might decrease frequency of events but is not effective to neurological deterioration. Amantadine as an alternative agent is used in add-on therapy, but epileptogenic side effect prevented the evaluation of long-term efficacy. Conclusion: Trials on new agents like amantadine are necessary for more effective control of the disease.

Objective: In this study we have investigated the presence of apoptosis in the placental tissue of pregnancies complicated with intra-uterine growth restriction (IUGR). Method: Placental samples were obtained from 22 normal third trimester pregnancies and 20 pregnancies complicated with IUGR. The criteria for fetal growth impairment were clinical evidence of sub-optimal growth, ultrasonographic demonstration of deviation from normal percentiles of growth and birth weight under 10th percentile. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end labelling (TUNEL) staining was used to demonstrate the apoptotic cells in all samples. Student-t, Mann–Withney U-test, Fisher exact test and Spearman correlation were used for statistical analysis. Result: We detected apoptosis in 10 placentas in the study group vs. none in the control group. Placentas from pregnancies complicated with IUGR demonstrated 0.12% (0.1%–0.4%) apoptotic cells. The rate of apoptotic cells in the placenta was significantly higher in pregnancies complicated with IUGR than normal uncomplicated pregnancy (P=0.0019). Apoptosis were more abundant in the trophoblasts, especially cytotrophoblasts, in the placenta. We could not find a correlation between the apoptosis in the placenta of pregnancies complicated with IUGR and birth weight, multi-parity, gestational age, birth weight percentile and mode of delivery (C/S vs. vaginal delivery). Conclusion: We believe that the increased number of apoptosis in the placenta of pregnancies complicated with IUGR may have an important compensatory role to transmit nutrition and gas exchange easily to the fetus.

Abnormal amniotic fluid volume can be associated with increased maternal risk as well as perinatal morbidity and mortality. Polyhydramnios is often indicative of fetal, placental or maternal problems. In a large proportion of patients the aetiology of the disorder is unclear. Here we report on a case in which numerous fetal erythroblasts and large quantities of extracellular fetal DNA were found in the peripheral blood of a pregnant woman with idiopathic polyhydramnios bearing a male fetus. Following enrichment of erythroblasts by magnetic separation (MACS) and anti-CD71 antibodies, approximately 45-fold more erythroblasts were determined per ml peripheral maternal blood than in matched controls (231 versus 5). Single cell multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of individually micromanipulated erythroblasts showed that approximately 122 of these were of fetal origin. The concentration of extracellular fetal circulatory DNA in maternal plasma was determined by real-time quantitative PCR and shown to be almost double that of the control group (749.2 versus 404 fetal genome equivalents per ml maternal plasma). It can be speculated that the increased intrauterine pressure in polyhydramnios leads to an enhanced influx of fetal cells and free extracellular fetal DNA into the maternal circulation. This hypothesis will have to be tested with further cases.

Cataloged from PDF version of article. Studies of transgovernmental activities have enhanced our understanding of changing global politics, but their claims have not been fully investigated with respect to the security realm. Therefore, this article first acknowledges a gap between the practices and capacities of nonstate entities creating transnational threats and those of state-based agents of response. States' ability to respond to these threats has been questioned. Is this skepticism warranted or have states begun adapting and developing new responses to address nonstate security challenges? This article looks at transgovernmental responses to transnational terrorism and identifies an unconventional group of substate pioneers, police liaison officers (PLO), making moves into the transnational realm. Data collected through interviews with international PLOs reveal these activities to be characterized by increasing informality, depoliticization, and demonopolization of global security cooperation. This cooperation nevertheless maintains its strong ties with state legitimacy and capacity, and is therefore conceptualized here as statist transnationalism

Undoped p-GaSe layered single crystals were grown using Bridgman technique. Thermally stimulated current measurements in the temperature range of 10-300 K were performed at a heating rate of 0.18 K/s. The analysis of the data revealed three trap levels at 0.02, 0.10 and 0.26 eV. The calculation for these traps yielded 8.8 × 10-27, 1.9 × 10-25, and 3.2 × 10-21 cm2 for capture cross sections and 3.2 × 1014, 1.1 × 1016, and 1.2 × 1016 cm-3 for the concentrations, respectively.

Raman spectra of GaSe layered crystal have been measured using a He-Ne laser and temperature tuning the free-to-bound gap in the range 10-290 K. Resonance enhancement of E’’(2) mode has been observed for both incident and scattered photon energies equal to the free-to-bound transition energy.

Ge-rich SiO2 layers on top of Si substrates were deposited using plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition. Ge nanocrystals embedded in the SiO2 layers were formed by high temperature annealing. The samples were measured and evaluated by spectroscopic ellipsometry. Effective medium theory (EMT) and parametric semiconductor models have been used to model the dielectric function of the layers. Systematic dependences of the layer thickness and the oscillator parameters have been found on the annealing temperature (nanocrystal size). (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Proper cell attachment and distribution, and thus stronger association in vivo between a bone implant and native tissue will improve the success of the implant. In this study, the aim was to achieve promotion of attachment and uniform distribution of rat mesenchymal stem cell-derived osteoblasts by introducing chemical and topographical cues on poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) film surfaces. As the chemical cues, either alkaline phosphatase was covalently immobilized on the film surface to induce deposition of calcium phosphate minerals or fibrinogen was adsorbed to improve cell adhesion. Microgrooves and micropits were introduced on the film surface by negative replication of micropatterned Si wafers. Both chemical cues improved cell attachment and even distribution on the PHBV films, but Fb was more effective especially when combined with the micropatterns. Cell alignment (

Photolimuniscence (PL) spectra of TlGaS2 layered crystals were studied in the wavelength region 500-1400 nm and in the temperature range 15-115 K. We observed three broad bands centered at 568 nm (A-band), 718 nm (B-band) and 1102 nm (C-band) in the PL spectrum. The observed bands have half-widths of 0.221, 0.258 and 0.067 eV for A-, B-, and C-bands, respectively. The increase of the emission band half-width, the blue shift of the emission band peak energy and the quenching of the PL with increasing temperature are explained using the configuration coordinate model. We have also studied the variations of emission band intensity versus excitation laser intensity in the range from 0.4 to 19.5 W cm -2 . The proposed energy-level diagram allows us to interpret the recombination processes in TlGaS2 crystals.