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BACKGROUND: Measurement of abnormal Red Blood Cell (RBC) deformability is a main indicator of Sickle Cell Anemia (SCA) and requires standardized quantification methods. Ektacytometry is commonly used to estimate the fraction of Sickled Cells (SCs) by measuring the deformability of RBCs from laser diffraction patterns under varying shear stress. In addition to estimations from model comparisons, use of maximum Elongation Index differences (ΔEImax) at different laser intensity levels was recently proposed for the estimation of SC fractions. OBJECTIVE: Implement a convolutional neural network to accurately estimate rigid-cell fraction and RBC concentration from laser diffraction patterns without using a theoretical model and eliminating the ektacytometer dependency for deformability measurements. METHODS: RBCs were collected from control patients. Rigid-cell fraction experiments were performed using varying concentrations of glutaraldehyde. Serial dilutions were used for varying the concentration of RBC. A convolutional neural network was constructed using Python and TensorFlow. RESULTS and CONCLUSIONS: Measurements and model predictions show that a linear relationship between ΔEImax and rigid-cell fraction exists only for rigid-cell fractions less than 0.2. The proposed neural network architecture can be used successfully for both RBC concentration and rigid-cell fraction estimations without a need for a theoretical model.

Coordinated assembly and disassembly of integrin-mediated focal adhesions (FAs) is essential for cell migration. Many studies have shown that FA disassembly requires Ca2+influx, however our understanding of this process remains incomplete. Here we show that Ca2+influx via STIM1/Orai1 calcium channels, which cluster near FAs, leads to activation of the GTPase Arf5 via the Ca2+-activated GEF IQSec1, and that both IQSec1 and Arf5 activation are essential for adhesion disassembly. We further show that IQSec1 forms a complex with the lipid transfer protein ORP3, and that Ca2+influx triggers PKC-dependent translocation of this complex to ER/plasma membrane contact sites adjacent to FAs. In addition to allosterically activating IQSec1, ORP3 also extracts PI4P from the PM, in exchange for phosphatidylcholine. ORP3-mediated lipid exchange is also important for FA turnover. Together, these findings identify a new pathway that links calcium influx to FA turnover during cell migration.

The knowledge of individual response to a therapy, which can be assesed by

öz Rasyo analizi, analiste firmaların belli bir dönem içinde finansal performanslarım birbirine göre karşılaştırma imkanını veren bir methoddur. Akçimento şirketinin finansal tablolarının analizi rasyo analizi baz alınarak yapılmıştır. Karşılaştırma için borsada hisseleri işlem gören 10 değişik çimento firması seçilmiştir. Çalışmanın ilk iki bölümünde çimento sektörü ve Akçimento firmasıyla ilgili genel bilgi verilmiştir. Üçüncü bölümde rasyo analizi yapılmış, takip eden bölümde ise şirketin geleceğe dönük finansal tabloları verilmiştir. Nakit akım tablosu analizi çalışmanın daha sonraki bölümünü oluşturmaktadır. Elde edilen bilgilere dayanarak, Akçimento şirketinin finansal pozisyonuyla ilgili sonuçlar çıkarılmıştır. Varılan en önemli sonuç, şirketin karlılık rasyolanm iyileştirmesi ve sektör ortalamaları düzeyine getirmesi gerektiğidir. Buna ulaşmak için, şirketin satılan malm maliyetini düşürmesi, iştirakler yoluyla genişlemesi ve alacak toplama süresini kısaltması önerilmiştir. IV ABSTRACT Ratio analysis is a method that enables the analyst to compare a firm's financial performance with other firms in a certain time of period. In this study, Akçimento's financial analysis is carried out mainly depending on ratio analysis of the company. 10 companies whose stocks are traded are chosen for comparison. In the first two parts of the study, general information about the cement industry and Akçimento is given. After mat, ratio analysis is done, and proforma income and balance sheet statements are figured out for the company. Cash flow analysis constitutes the following part of the analysis. Depending on this information, conclusions are given for Akçimento's financial position in the last part. The most important conclusion for the company is that the company should improve its profit margins and reach the sector average figures by decreasing its expenses mainly coming from cost of goods sold, integrating through participations, and decreasing receivables collection period. Ill 47