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Resumen Introduccion y objetivos Comparar, en terminos de eficacia y seguridad, los resultados del tratamiento endoscopico del reflujo vesicoureteral (RVU) en dos cohortes diferentes de RVU primario tratadas con Dexell y Vantris. Pacientes El estudio incluyo 128 unidades de reflujo renal (URR) en 87 pacientes con RVU primario (64 mujeres, 23 hombres). Se excluyeron los pacientes con RVU secundario y disfuncion vesical e intestinal severa. Un total de 22 ninos mayores ya continentes, con disfuncion vesico-intestinal leve, fueron sometidos a entrenamiento vesico-intestinal previo a la implantacion. Todos los procedimientos se realizaron en presencia de orina esteril mediante la tecnica convencional de inyeccion transuretral subureteral. Resultados No hubo diferencias estadisticamente significativas entre los dos grupos en cuanto a media de edad, sexo, lateralidad de la URR, captacion de 99mTc-DMSA y grado de reflujo. Las tasas de resolucion global con base en el numero de URR con hasta tres tratamientos endoscopicos fueron del 80% (56/70) en el grupo Dexell y del 94,8% (55/58) en el grupo Vantris (p = 0,012). No se observaron recidivas ni obstrucciones de la union vesicoureteral en el postoperatorio en ningun grupo. Conclusiones Dexell y Vantris proporcionaron un tratamiento endoscopico eficaz y seguro en el seguimiento a corto y medio plazo del RVU primario en ninos. Se requieren mas estudios para evaluar la eficacia de estas sustancias, cuyo efecto de volumen depende del tamano de sus particulas, en la resolucion segura del RVU.

Background and Aims: Foreign body aspiration (FBA) is frequently seen in children, and progresses with symptoms related to airway obstruction, leading to serious complications. The aim of this study was to discuss the diagnosis and treatment principles of patients who underwent bronchoscopy for suspected foreign body aspiration (FBA), and to emphasize its preventability.Method: A retrospective review was made of the records of patients who underwent bronchoscopy for evaluation of FBA in the Pediatric Surgery Clinics of two hospitals where the authors work from January 2017 to February 2020. Age, gender, history of FBA, clinical symptoms, chest radiography findings, bronchoscopy findings, complications, and outcome were recorded for each patient. A history of FBA, physical examination findings, and radiological study results were analyzed statistically to determine the most accurate diagnostic tool to differentiate cases with and without FBA.Results: Bronchoscopy was performed in 102 patients with suspected FBA. A foreign body was detected in 51% (52/102) of the patients. No statistically significant difference was determined in respect of age and gender (p>0.005). There was a statistically significant difference in respect of history and time of presentation, but no difference in terms of physical examination and radiological findings. Of the foreign bodies aspirated, 87% were nuts. No life-threatening complications occurred in any patient due to bronchoscopy. Conclusion: Nuts are the most frequently aspirated foreign bodies in childhood. History, physical examination, and radiological findings may not be available for all patients. Preventive measures are important as FBA can lead to fatal consequences. Careful evaluation of the patient is necessary to reduce the negative bronchoscopy rate., Giriş ve Amaç: Yabancı cisim aspirasyonu çocuklarda sık görülür ve hava yolu obstrüksiyonuna bağlı semptomlarla ilerleyerek ciddi komplikasyonlara yol açar. Bu çalışmanın amacı şüpheli yabancı cisim aspirasyonu nedeniyle bronkoskopi yapılan hastaların uygun tanı araçlarını ve tedavi prensiplerini tartışmak ve önlenebilirliğini vurgulamaktır.Yöntem: Yazarların çalıştığı iki hastanenin Çocuk Cerrahisi Kliniklerinde Ocak 2017'den Şubat 2020 tarihleri arasında, yabancı cisim aspirasyonu değerlendirilmesi için bronkoskopi yapılan hastaların kayıtları geriye dönük olarak incelendi. Yaş, cinsiyet, yabancı cisim aspirasyonu öyküsü, klinik semptomlar, akciğer grafisi bulguları, bronkoskopi bulguları, komplikasyonlar kaydedildi. Yabancı cisim aspirasyonu öyküsü, fizik muayene bulguları ve akciğer grafisi bulguları, yabancı cisim varlığını tespit için bronkoskopi öncesi en uygun tanı aracını bulmak amacıyla istatistiksel olarak incelendi.Bulgular: Yabancı cisim aspirasyonu şüphesi olan 102 hastaya bronkoskopi yapıldı. Hastaların% 51'inde (52/102) yabancı cisim tespit edildi. Yaş ve cinsiyet açısından istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir fark saptanmadı (p> 0,005). Öykü ve başvuru zamanı açısından istatistiksel olarak anlamlı fark bulunurken, fizik muayene ve radyolojik bulgular açısından fark bulunmadı. Aspire edilen yabancı cisimlerin % 87'si kuruyemiş idi. Bronkoskopiye bağlı hiçbir hastada hayatı tehdit eden bir komplikasyon oluşmadı.Sonuç: Kuruyemişler, çocukluk çağında en sık aspire edilen yabancı cisimlerdir. Hastalarda öykü, fizik muayene ve radyolojik bulguların normal olabileceği unutulmamalıdır. Önleyici tedbirler, ölümcül sonuçlar doğurabilen aspirasyon için hepsinden önemlidir. Negatif bronkoskopi oranını azaltmak için hastanın dikkatli değerlendirilmesi gerekir.

Introduction and Objectives We aimed to point out the ureteral access facility and obstruction removal efficiency of mini-URS in the use of proximal ureteral stone management in children under five-year-old. Patients We retrospectively reviewed the data of 26 children who underwent mini-URS-LL for obstructive stones in proximal ureter between January 2016 and August 2018. The effectiveness of the mini-URS-LL was assessed based on the feasibility, reliability, and success of the technique. Results Mean age was 3 ± 1.3 years, and 11 (42.3%) patients were ≤2 years old, remaining 15 (57.7%) were aged 3−5 years. Mean stone size was 9.11 ± 3.02 mm. A stone-free status was obtained at the end of 31 ureteroscopic procedure in 24 (92.3%) patients. The mean age was found significantly higher in patients who had the procedure without pre-stenting than the others who did (P = .027). No perioperative complication was experienced. Conclusion In preschool-age children, laser lithotripsy with mini-URS may be a safe technique in the hands with advanced endo-urological skills but it has low efficacy with higher rates of prestenting causing additional anesthesia sessions.

Objective: This study aimed to discuss the reasons for conversion in light of the literature and reduce any unnecessary conversion to open procedure, according to our clinic's results during the learning curve. Methods: A retrospective review was performed on 100 patients who had a laparoscopic appendectomy in our clinic between September 2014 and August 2019. The patients who had a laparoscopic appendectomy were evaluated for conversion to open procedure by reviewing the age, gender, white blood cell count (WBC), and surgical findings (location of the appendix, perforation status, peritonitis). Laparoscopy was performed through two ports. Results: The age average of 100 patients, including 63 males who have undergone a laparoscopic appendectomy, was 10.86 ± 3.78 years. The laparoscopic technique was converted to open in nine children. WBC ratio of the patients was significantly higher in converted procedures. Among the procedures converted to open appendectomy, three patients presented retrocecal appendix placement; two patients presented retrocecal placement and perforation and diffuse peritonitis; three patients presented perforation and diffuse peritonitis, and one patient presented uncontrolled bleeding. Conclusion: The use of laparoscopic appendectomy has just increased in Pediatric Surgery clinics along with some factors that affect the conversion to open procedure. WBC ratio was significantly higher in converted procedures. When study results are reviewed from this perspective, perforation, diffuse peritonitis, and the appendix's retrocecal location are the most significant independent indicators for conversion from laparotomic procedure to open procedure.

Background: Many surgical techniques, as well as dressing models, were identified in the treatment of hypospadias. There are many publications in the literature that are the result of the effort to find the ideal dressing after hypospadias surgery. The dressing has some benefits; however, it has some adverse effects. The present study aimed to discuss outcomes of the patients who have been operated through the tubularized incised plate urethroplasty (TIPU) method and followed with and without dressing postoperatively. Methods: Patients operated on through the TIPU method between March 2015 and August 2019 were reviewed retrospectively. The patients were divided into two groups, dressing and undressing. Preoperative hypospadias severity was evaluated according to the Glans-Urethral Meatus-Shaft (GMS) scoring method. The care results of the patients were recorded. Postoperative outcomes were compared according to the Hypospadias Objective Scoring Evaluation (HOSE) scale, and statistical analyses were conducted. The results of both groups were compared statistically. Results: One hundred and nineteen patients were divided into two groups: dressing (n = 56) and nondressing (n = 63). The patients’ average age was 3.54 ± 2.97 years in group 1 and 3.50 ± 3.01 years in group 2 (p = 0.940). There was not any statistically significant difference between the two groups for demographic data. Minimal bleeding had stopped in three patients in the nondressing group spontaneously before discharging. No severe edema or hematoma, which might have concerned the parents, appeared. Two (3.5%) and 3 (4.7%) patients underwent a maximum of three urethral dilation sessions in dressing and nondressing groups, respectively (p = 0.556). We found no significant difference between groups in the comparison of preoperative GMS and postoperative HOSE scoring. Discussion: The most important limitation of the study is that it is retrospective. Pre- and postoperative scoring systems are objective. The data obtained in the literature show that surgeons prefer to apply dressings commonly after the TIPU technique. Advantages and disadvantages of dressing are mentioned in the literature. Even if the paradigm is dressing in hypospadias surgery, according to the results of our study, dressing may not affect the functional and cosmetic results of TIPU repair. Conclusion: Postoperative functional and cosmetic results of TIPU in hypospadias appear to be independent of dressing. However, the results must be supported by further research.

© 2021 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA.BACKGROUND: Intrahospital transport, general anesthesia, and the prolonged duration of the central venous catheterization (CVC) in unfavorable conditions pose a significant risk to a critically-ill premature infant. We aimed to demonstrate a minimalized and safe manner of CVC in this patient population. METHODS: We worked on a prospective study in 51 critically-ill premature infants in which a 22 Gauge catheter was put in one of the central thoracic veins with the guidance of sonography as a bedside procedure. Of the patients, 27 (53%) were extremely premature, and 21 (41%) were extremely low birth weight infants (ELBW). The mean gestational age was 29±5 weeks, and the mean weight at the time of the procedure was 1655±1028 grams. While no anesthetic and sedative drugs were administered to ELBW infants during procedures, in the remainder of the cohort, procedures were carried out only under sedoanalgesia. RESULTS: Vascular access was achieved in 48 (94%) of the patients after a mean number of 1.47±0.75 attempts. Body heat loss of the patients at the end of the procedures was not statistically significant (P=0.164). However, ELBW infants lost their body heat significantly more than the rest of the cohort (P=0.032). We experienced clinically insignificant common carotid artery puncture in three patients and hemothorax in one patient. CONCLUSIONS: CVC of critically ill premature infants can be safely and successfully achieved in incubators using sonography guidance, protecting them from hypothermia and anesthetic drugs.

Objective This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic value of presepsin, a new inflammatory marker for paediatric appendicitis, and to determine a reference range of presepsin for children. Methods This single-center prospective study was conducted in our paediatric emergency department between 1 February 2021 and 1 July 2021. Patients aged 0–18 years diagnosed with acute appendicitis, which was pathologically confirmed, and healthy volunteers in the same age group were included in the study. Serum presepsin levels were analysed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay reader. In addition to presepsin, other acute-phase reactants, paediatric appendicitis scores and imaging methods were evaluated. Results There were 94 patients in the acute appendicitis group and 102 healthy volunteers in the control group. Median values were compared between the two groups, and no statistically significant differences were found (p = 0.544). In addition, no statistically signivficant differences in presepsin levels were found between the acute and perforated appendicitis groups (p = 0.344). The median (IQ1–IQ3) reference range for presepsin in healthy children was 0.9950 (0.7575–1.610) ng/mL. Conclusion Presepsin is not a suitable marker for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. We observed that serum presepsin levels were not elevated in paediatric appendicitis, which is a local infection, in contrast to previous studies.

Purpose: We present our experience of stented and unstented distal hypospadias repaired by tubularized incised plate urethroplasty (TIPU). Patients and Methods: Data of 84 patients who were operated by TIPU method in 2 hospitals were retrospectively analyzed, and they were invited to be included in the study. Sixty-six patients agreed to participate in the study and were divided into 2 groups. Group 1 consisted of 38 boys operated in Sütçü İmam University Hospital on using a stent between 2015 and 2017. Group 2 consisted of 28 boys operated in Private Hospital of Megapark on without a stent between 2016 and 2017. The hypospadias objective scoring evaluation (HOSE) scale was used to compare the groups. Results: The median age was 2.81 years in group 1 and 1.95 years in group 2 (p = 0.243). The mean follow-up duration was 25.74 ± 4.62 and 24.5 ± 4.19 months in groups 1 and 2 respectively (p = 0.268). The HOSE scores were similar in both groups with comparable results (p = 0.622). Conclusions: No difference was observed between the groups in this study, regarding functional and cosmetic outcomes according to the HOSE score. However, the results should be supported by prospective studies with a sufficient number of patients.

Amaç: Ürolitiyazis, pediatrik hastalarda kalıcı böbrek fonksiyon bozukluğuna ve ciddi klinik semptomlara yol açabilen önemli bir hastalıktır. Bu çalışmada, rijit üreteroskopi ve Holmiyum YAG lazer litotripsi sonuçlarımızı sunmayı amaçladık.Gereç ve Yöntemler: Nisan 2018 ile Aralık 2019 tarihleri arasında Sütçü İmam Üniversitesi, Çocuk Cerrahisi kliniğinde ürolitiyazis tanısı ile opere olan çocuk hastaların ultrasonografi bulguları ve tıbbi kayıtları geriye dönük olarak değerlendirmeye alındı.Bulgular: Bu çalışmaya ürolitiyazis tanısı almış 61 çocuk hasta (E/K=38/23) alındı. Ortalama yaş 6.7±4.9 yıl (3 ay-17 yıl) idi. On üç (%34.2) erkek hastanın acil girişim (rijit üreteroskopi ve Holmiyum YAG lazer litotripsi) ihtiyacı olurken, kız hastalarda bu sayı 4 (%17.4) idi. Bu konuda iki cinsiyet arasındaki fark istatistiksel olarak anlamlı değildi (p=0.156). Otuz iki erkek hasta (%84.2) ve 12 (%52.2) kız hastada işlem (rijit üreteroskopi ve Holmiyum YAG lazer litotripsi) başarılı bir şekilde sonuçlandı. Erkek hastalardaki bu başarı oranı kız hastalardan istatistiksel olarak anlamlı yüksek idi (p=0.019). Sağ tarafta taşı olan kız hasta oranı, erkek hastaların oranlarından daha anlamlı olarak yüksekti (p3 yaş) arasında cinsiyet, taşın tarafı, işlem başarısı ve acil cerrahi gereksinimi açısından fark yoktu (p>0.05). Regresyon analizinde, kız cinsiyetinin girişimin başarısızlığı açısından risk faktörü olduğu saptandı (OR=-0.313, %95 CI: 0.052-0.528; p=0.0018).Sonuç: Mini üreteroskopi ve holmiyum lazer, çocukluk yaş grubundaki ürolitiyazis vakalarında güvenli ve etkili tedavi seçeneğidir. Ancak özellikle kız hastalarda bu tedavi seçeneği değerlendirilirken alternatif tedavi yöntemleri olan fleksibl veya perkutan nefrolitotomi tercih edilebilir., Objective: Urolithiasis is an important disease that can lead to permanent kidney dysfunction and severe clinical symptoms in pediatric patients. We aimed to present our findings of rigid ureteroscopy combined with Holmium YAG laser lithotripsy.Material and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the ultrasonography, and medical records of pediatric patients with urolithiasis who were operated in Sutcu Imam University Department of Pediatric Surgery, Kahramanmaraş between April 2018 and December 2019.Results: Sixty-one pediatric patients (M/F=38/23) with urolithiasis were enrolled in this study. The mean age was 6.7±4.9 years (range 3 month-17 years). Thirteen (34.2%) male patients need an urgent operation (rigid ureteroscopy combined with Holmium YAG laser lithotripsy) while the corresponding number was 4 (17.4%) in female patients. The difference between two sexes was statistically non-significant (p=0.156). Thirty-two male patients (84.2%) and 12 (52.2%) females patients had a successful operation (rigid ureteroscopy combined with Holmium YAG laser lithotripsy). The difference between the two sexes was statistically significant (p=0.019). The ratio of female patients with right-sided stone was significantly greater than the corresponding rates of male patients (p=3 years of age) with respect to gender, side of stone, procedural success, and need for urgent surgery (p>0.05). Regression analysis showed that female gender was a risk factor for a failed attempt (OR=-0.313, 95% CI: 0.052 – 0.528; p=0.0018).Conclusion: Safe and effective stone treatment can be performed considering that more than one operation can be performed in infants and children with mini ureteroscopy and holmium laser. However, while evaluating this treatment option in female patients, alternative treatment methods such as flexible or percutaneous nephrolithotomy may be preferred.

Klinigimizde ozefagus atrezisi ve trakeaozefageal fistul (OA ve TOF) tanisi ile ameliyat edilen hastalarin tedavi sonuclarini degerlendirmek. Nisan 2017 - Kasim 2019 tarihleri arasinda ozefagus atrezisi ve trakeaozefageal fistul tanisiyla ameliyat edilen hastalarin sonuclari retrospektif olarak degerlendirildi. Hastalarin gestasyonel yas, dogum agirligi, cinsiyet, atrezi tipi, cerrahi yaklasim, tedavi suresi acisindan degerlendirildi. Postoperatif mekanik ventilator takibi, nazogastrik tup ve oral beslenmeye gecis suresi ve komplikasyonlar acisindan incelendi. Calismaya 20 (% 83) erkek ve 4 (% 17) kiz toplam 24 hasta dahil edildi. Ortalama ameliyat yasi 3,9 gun idi. Hastalarin gestasyonel yasi 35 hafta ve ortalama dogum agirligi 2391 gramdi. Distal trakeaozefageal fistul + proksimal atrezi 22 (% 92) hastada tespit edildi. Ondort (% 58) hastada konjenital kalp hastaligi tespit edildi. Ventilatorde takip suresi 27 saat, ortalama oral beslenme suresi 11 gundu. Uc (%12.5) hasta oldu. Hastanede kalis suresi 16 gundu. Takiplerinde 5 (% 21) hastada anastomoz darligi, bir (% 4) hastada anastomoz kacagi goruldu. OA ve TOF cerrahi tedavi ile yuksek oranda iyilestirilebilen anomalilerdir. OA hastalarinin yenidogan ekibi tarafindan izlenmesi, ek anomalilerin takibi ve tedavisi icin onemlidir. Bu nedenle bu hastalar multidisipliner bir yaklasimla takip edilmelidir. Ameliyat sonrasi sik karsilasilan anastamoz darligi acisindan aileler bilgilendirilmelidir.

Introduction and objectives To compare the results in terms of efficacy and safety of the endoscopic management for vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) in two different standardized primary VUR cohorts treated with Dexell and Vantris. Patients 128 refluxing renal units (RRU) in 87 patients with primary VUR (64 females, 23 males). Patients with secondary VUR and severe bladder and bowel dysfunction were excluded. A total of 22 continent children with mild bladder-bowel dysfunction underwent bladder-bowel training before the implantation. All procedures were performed in the presence of sterile urine using a conventional subureteral transurethral injection technique. Results There were no statistically significant differences between groups in terms of mean age, sex, RRU side, 99mTc-DMSA uptake, and reflux grade. The overall resolution rates based on the number of RRUs for up to three endoscopic treatments were 80% (56/70) in Dexell group and 94.8% (55/58) in Vantris group (P = .012). No postoperative recurrences or vesicoureteral junction obstructions were seen in any group. Conclusions Dexell and Vantris provided an effective and safe endoscopic VUR treatment in the early and mid-term follow up of children with primary VUR. The effectiveness of these substances, which can produce different mass effects with different particle sizes, in safe VUR resolution, needs further investigations.

The dynamic pricing strategies provide several advantages for both users and operators. The users have opportunity to reduce electricity consumption by responding price changing. It enables the user to save money while the operator is able to manage demand side. However, demand response potential cannot be fully utilized due to lack of automation system and difficulty for users to operate their appliances optimally in response to price changing. In this study, active control mechanism is applied to second-order model of thermostatically controlled heat ventilation air conditioner and electric water heater which consumed 60% of energy in the buildings and highly available for demand response applications. Active control is performed via smart meter (SM) and active control units (ACU) equipped to each appliance. While electricity prices are sent by the smart grid to ACU via SM, the users introduce comfort temperature zone and demand response participation rate to ACU. Set points of the devices are updated by ACU using network information and the user preferences. Power consumption quantity and cost of thermostatic loads with default settings are compared to quantity and cost with adjusted setting by active control. Simulation results show that the active control of appliances provides significant decrease in power consumption during high price time. Also, the users economically benefit from responding to time-varying prices.

Image thresholding is the most crucial step in microscopic image analysis to distinguish bacilli objects causing of tuberculosis disease. Therefore, several bi-level thresholding algorithms are widely used to increase the bacilli segmentation accuracy. However, bi-level microscopic image thresholding problem has not been solved using optimization algorithms. This paper introduces a novel approach for the segmentation problem using heuristic algorithms and presents visual and quantitative comparisons of heuristic and state-of-art thresholding algorithms. In this study, well-known heuristic algorithms such as Firefly Algorithm, Particle Swarm Optimization, Cuckoo Search, Flower Pollination are used to solve bi-level microscopic image thresholding problem, and the results are compared with the state-of-art thresholding algorithms such as K-Means, Fuzzy C-Means, Fast Marching. Kapur's entropy is chosen as the entropy measure to be maximized. Experiments are performed to make comparisons in terms of evaluation metrics and execution time. The quantitative results are calculated based on ground truth segmentation. According to the visual results, heuristic algorithms have better performance and the quantitative results are in accord with the visual results. Furthermore, experimental time comparisons show the superiority and effectiveness of the heuristic algorithms over traditional thresholding algorithms.

Objective: The quadratus lumborum block (QLB) is a new and effective truncal block used for postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing upper and lower abdominal surgeries. We aimed to evaluate and compare the efficacy of QLB and wound infiltration (WI) using postoperative Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, and Consolability (FLACC) pain scores and total 24-h analgesic consumption in pediatric patients who underwent laparoscopic-assisted pyeloplasty (LAP). Materials and Methods: Patients who underwent LAP between May 2016 and June 2017 were retrospectively examined and were divided into two groups: QLB group and WI group. Patients' FLACC scores at 1, 6, 12, and 24 h; postoperative analgesic doses; and complications were evaluated from patient's records. Results: A total of 31 patients who underwent LAP were identified from the records. Of them, 14 had QLB and 17 had WI. Demographic characteristics of patients and operation duration were similar between the two groups. FLACC scores at 1, 6, 12, and 24 h and postoperative total 24-h paracetamol consumption were significantly lower in the QLB group. No complications were seen in both groups. Conclusion: According to the present study results, QLB provides a longer and more effective postoperative analgesia than WI in pediatric patients who have undergone LAP.

Network reconfiguration and distributed generation (DG) installation are important approaches for loss mitigation and system efficiency improvement. To date, these approaches are generally implemented separately. In this work, simultaneous network reconfigurations and DG installation is solved in order to minimize real power loss and improve system efficiency using popular heuristic algorithms such as Artificial Bee Colony (ABC), Differential Evaluation (DE), Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and Genetic Algorithm (GA). While decision making is carried out for open switches and DG sizing by given algorithms, optimal locations of DGs are decided using loss sensitivity factor in order to reduce searching space. Different cases of network reconfiguration and DG installation are implemented to compare the performances of given heuristic algorithms. Branch current, bus voltages and DG capacity are considered as constraints and 69 bus system is used for simulation. This study demonstrates that simultaneous network reconfiguration and DG installation presents better solutions than any other cases and ABC has proven minimum losses and maximum voltage improvement. DOI: 10.5755/j01.eie.25.1.22729

It is expected that electric vehicles (EVs) will be important part of smart gird, not only in form of load but also as distributed energy source in Vehicle to Grid (V2G) system. As increase of EVs integration, V2G contributes to improve flexibility, reliability and stability of grid by providing ancillary services. These services, however, could accelerate degradation of battery whose price is almost half of EV. Thus, battery degradation cost must be considered while scheduling of EV charging. In this paper, a battery degradation cost model of EV lithium-ion batteries was incorporated in the optimal charging schedule of 400 EVs. EVs are located to 33 bus system in order to consider network losses in calculations. Heuristic algorithms such as Genetic Algorithm (GA), Differential Evolution (DE), Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and Artificial Bee Colony (ABC) are used for solving the associated optimization problem. The objective function aims to maximize user profit under dynamic pricing. Also, distribution system and EVs constraints are considered during optimization. The numerical results illustrate that each of the used heuristic algorithms able to mitigate peak loads and improve voltage levels. GA presents the most profitable charging scheduling in terms of EV owners. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.eie.24.6.22283

Optimum Power Flow (OPF) is one of the key considerations for planning, generation control and management of electric utility. Hence it is of major importance to solve OPF with minimum cost within reasonable computing time. This paper presents solutions of OPF with Valve Point Effect (OPF-VPE) using Genetic Algorithm (GA), Differential Evolution (DE), Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and Artificial Bee Colony (ABC). When steam valve starts to open in a turbine it changes generation curve. The valve point effect is considered by adding sine component to the quadratic cost function for OPF-VPE. Also, penalty function is added for generator violations. The common parameters of algorithms such as population size and the iteration number are selected same values for the comparison of algorithms for solving OPF-VPE. Specific parameters are stated and used for each algorithm. The heuristic algorithms are examined on IEEE-30 bus system and convergence curves are demonstrated with the system results. Performances of each algorithm are discussed as regards optimizing fuel cost, iteration time and other system results. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.eie.22.5.16340

Yanlis pozitif ve negatif sonuclari olmasina ragmen Tc-99m perteknetat ile goruntuleme ozellikle pediatrik hastalarda basit, guvenilir, ucuz ve non invaziv goruntuleme teknigidir

Background We aimed to assess the causes of trauma that result in liver injury and additional solid organ injuries, management types and results of management in children referred to our clinic for liver injuries. Methods The records of 52 patients who were managed for liver injuries due to blunt abdominal trauma between January 2005-2010 were reviewed retrospectively. Results The patients were 1-17 (8.3±5.4) years old; 32 (62%) were male and 20 (38%) were female. Causes of injuries included pedestrian traffic accidents (19, 37%), falls from height (15, 29%), passenger traffic accidents (8, 15%), bicycle accidents (8, 15%), and objects falling on the body (2, 4%). Isolated liver injury was present in 32 patients (62%), while 20 patients (38%) had other organ injuries. Liver injuries were grade I in 6 patients (12%), grade II in 14 (28%), grade III in 22 (43%), grade IV in 9 (17%), and grade V in 1 (2%). Forty-five patients (87%) were managed conservatively in this series of liver injury, whereas seven patients (13%) who had unstable vital signs underwent surgery. The mortality rate, duration of stay in intensive care and hospital, and number of blood transfusions were higher in surgically managed patients, while hemoglobin level and blood pressure were significantly lower in surgically managed patients. Conclusion As a result, conservative management should be preferred in patients with liver injuries who are hemodynamically stable. Conservative management has some advantages, including shorter duration of stay in hospital, less need for blood transfusion and lower morbidity and mortality rates.