Comparison of effects of automated peritoneal dialysis and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis on health-related quality of life, sleep quality, and depression

Few studies investigating the effects of automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) on health-related quality of life (HRQoL), depression, and sleep quality exist in the literature. We aimed to determine differences between APD and CAPD modalities with respect to these parameters. Twenty APD and 48 CAPD patients were included in this cross-sectional study. Biochemical values were measured at outpatient evaluation. A modified postsleep inventory was used to evaluate sleep quality. Health-related quality of life and depression were evaluated by the Short Form of Medical Outcomes Study and Beck Depression Inventory, respectively. Automated peritoneal dialysis and CAPD patients were compared in terms of sleep quality, HRQoL, and depression. Our results showed that there were no significant differences between APD and CAPD in any of the studied parameters. Moderate or severe sleep problems were found in 60% and 69% of the APD and CAPD patients, respectively. Mean HRQoL scores for any of the 8 Short Form of Medical Outcomes Study-36 domains were similar in the 2 groups. The mean physical component score was 51.1 ± 21.2 and 48.9 ± 18.2 in APD and CAPD patients, respectively (P=0.672). The mean mental component score was 47.5 ± 20.1 in APD patients, whereas it was 42.4 ± 19.5 in CAPD patients (P=0.291). Depression was detected in 70% of APD and 62.5% of the CAPD patients. The mean Beck Depression Inventory scores were also similar in the 2 groups. This study showed that HRQoL, sleep quality, and depression were similar in APD and CAPD patients.     

Ozonation as an Environmentally Friendly Method to Decolorize the Leather Products

In this study, ozonation as an environmentally friendly bleaching method was studied for decolorization of leather products. The effect of ozonation time (3, 5, 10, 15 and 30 min) and water pick-up value (WPV) (0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100%) were investigated on decolorization effect. For this aim, the color measurement and tensile strength tests were performed, and also structural changes were determined by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) after ozonation process. The results of color measurements showed that 30 min for ozonation and 60% WPV were optimum parameters to obtain maximum decolorization effect. SEM images of the ozonated leathers showed some deformations on the collagen fibers and resulted with the slightly decreases in tensile strength of the products. On the other hand, decreases in the tensile strength values were not statistically important levels.     

Antenna array pattern nulling by controlling both amplitude and phase using modified touring ant colony optimization algorithm

This paper presents an efficient method, based on the modified touring ant colony optimization algorithm, for null steering of linear antenna arrays by controlling both the amplitude and the phase of array elements. The maximum sidelobe level, the null depth level and the dynamic range ratio are taken into account in the pattern synthesis. Simulation results for Chebyshev patterns with the imposed single, multiple and broad nulls are given to show the effectiveness of the proposed method.     

Cheap Joint Probabilistic Data Association with Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System State Filter for Tracking Multiple Targets in Cluttered Environment

The cheap joint probabilistic data association (CJPDA) with the adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system state filter (ANFISSF) is presented for tracking multiple targets in the presence of low and high cluttered environments. The state update step of the CJPDA filter (CJPDAF) is realized with the ANFISSF instead of Kalman filter. The adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) has the advantages of expert knowledge of fuzzy inference system and learning capability of neural networks. A hybrid learning algorithm, which combines the least square method and the backpropagation algorithm, is used to identify the parameters of ANFIS. The tracks estimated by using the method proposed in this paper for different tracking scenarios are in very good agreement with the original tracks.     

Neural models for quasi-static analysis of conventional and supported coplanar waveguides

Neural models based on multilayered perceptrons (MLPs) for computing the effective permittivities and the characteristic impedances of both the conventional coplanar waveguides (CCPWs) and the supported coplanar waveguides (SCPWs) are presented. Six learning algorithms, Levenberg–Marquardt (LM), Bayesian regularization (BR), quasi-Newton (QN), scaled conjugate gradient (SCG), conjugate gradient of Fletcher–Powell (CGF), and resilient propagation (RP), are used to train the MLPs. The results of neural models presented in this paper are compared with the results of the experimental works, the conformal mapping technique (CMT), the spectral domain approach (SDA), and three commercial electromagnetic simulators such as IE3D, CAPIND2D, and MMICTL. The neural results are in very good agreement with the theoretical and experimental results. When the performances of neural models are compared with each other, the best result is obtained from the MLPs trained by the LM algorithm.     

A comparative study of neural networks for input resistance computation of electrically thin and thick rectangular microstrip antennas

Multilayered-perceptron-based neural models for calculating the input resistance of electrically thin and thick rectangular microstrip antennas are presented. Eleven learning algorithms—Levenberg-Marquardt, conjugate gradient of Fletcher-Reeves, Bayesian regularization, Broyden-Fletcher-Goldfarb-Shanno, conjugate gradient of Polak-Ribiére, conjugate gradient of Powell-Beale, scaled conjugate gradient, one-step secant, resilient backpropagation, backpropagation with momentum, and backpropagation with adaptive learning rate—are used to train the multilayered perceptrons. The input resistance results obtained with the use of neural models are in very good agreement with the experimental results available in the literature. When the performances of neural models are compared with each other, the best result is obtained from the multilayered perceptrons trained by the Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm. Published in Radiotekhnika i Elektronika, 2007, Vol. 52, No. 5, pp. 517–527. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Effective side length formula for resonant frequency of equilateral triangular microstrip antenna

A novel and accurate expression is obtained by employing the differential evolution algorithm for the effective side length (ESL) of the equilateral triangular microstrip antenna (ETMA). This useful formula allows the antenna engineers to accurately calculate the ESL of the ETMA. The computed resonant frequencies (RFs) show very good agreement with the experimental RFs when this accurate ESL formula is utilised for the computation of the RFs for the first five modes.     

Effects of Er,Cr:YSGG laser parameters on dentin bond strength and interface morphology

Previous studies have shown the effects of Er,Cr:YSGG laser irradiation on the dentin bond strength; but there are few reports that show the significance of the irradiation with different laser parameters on dentin bond strength and interface morphology. This in‐vitro study attempted to evaluate the microtensile bond strength (μTBS) and interface morphology of resin‐dentin interfaces, either followed by treatment with Er,Cr:YSGG laser irradiation with different parameters or not. The flattened dentin samples of 35 bovine teeth were embedded into acrylic blocks and randomly divided into seven groups according to surface treatments using Er,Cr:YSGG lasers with different parameters: 3 W/20 Hz, 3 W/35 Hz, 3 W/50 Hz, 1.5 W/20 Hz, 1.5 W/35 Hz, 1.5 W/50 Hz, or no laser treatment (n = 5). Composite buildups were done over bonded surfaces and stored in water (24 hours at 37°C). Specimens were sectioned into sticks that were subjected to μTBS testing and observed under FE‐SEM. Control groups (27.70 ± 7.0) showed statistically higher values than laser‐irradiated groups. There were no significant differences among laser groups. Despite that, increasing the pulse frequency yielded slightly higher bond strength. Depending on laser settings, Er,Cr:YSGG laser irradiation caused interfacial gaps and resin tags with wings morphology. With the parameters used in this study, Er,Cr:YSGG laser irradiation promoted morphological changes within resin‐dentin interfaces and negatively influenced the bond strength of adhesive systems. Microsc. Res. Tech. 78:1104–1111, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.