Başkent University

About: Başkent University is a education organization based out in Ankara, Turkey. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Transplantation & Population. The organization has 4652 authors who have published 10380 publications receiving 143117 citations. The organization is also known as: Başkent Üniversitesi.

Optimisation of cutting parameters for minimizing carbon emission and maximising cutting quality in turning process

Abstract: Modern manufacturing systems are faced with the challenge of reducing the carbon emission related to manufacturing technologies. Machining centres consume large amounts of energy and as a consequen...

Early onset conjugated hyperbilirubinemia in newborn infants

Abstract: Objectives: To determine the causes and related outcomes of early onset conjugated hyperbilirubinemia in a group of newborn infants, and to determine the incidence of sepsis in these neonates.Methods: The charts of 42 babies with conjugated hyperbilirubinemia were retrospectively reviewed.Results: The mean gestational age was 37 weeks, and the mean postnatal age at presentation was 10 days. Culture-proven sepsis was identified in 15 babies (35.7% of total). Gramnegative bacteria were isolated in 10 cases and E. coli was the most common of these agents (7 cases). Perinatal hypoxiaischemia was the second most frequent etiology (7 patients; 16.7% of total). The other diagnoses were blood group incompatibility (n=5), Down syndrome (n=3), cholestasis associated with parenteral nutrition (n=3), neonatal hepatitis (n=2), metabolic liver disease (n=1), biliary atresia (n=1), portal venous thrombosis (n=1), and unknown (n=4). Thirteen babies with sepsis recovered completely with treatment, whereas the prognosis for those with perinatal hypoxia-ischemia was grave (six of seven died).Conclusions: The findings suggest that early onset cholestatic jaundice in newborn infants is more commonly from non-hepatic causes, so it is reasonable to monitor these infants carefully for a period of time before undertaking time-consuming or invasive investigations towards a primary liver disease.

Influence of recasting different types of dental alloys on gingival fibroblast cytotoxicity.

Abstract: Statement of problem Surplus alloy from the initial casting is commonly reused with the addition of new alloy This recasting procedure could affect the cytotoxicity of dental alloys Purpose The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of repeated casting of high-noble and base metal alloys on gingival fibroblast cytotoxicity Material and Methods Disk-shaped specimens (5 × 2 mm, n=60) of a high-noble (Au-Pt) and 2 base metal (Ni-Cr and Cr-Co, n=20) alloys were prepared with 100% new alloy and 50%, 65%, and 100% once recast alloy The elemental composition of specimens was analyzed with X-ray energy-dispersive spectroscopy Five specimens from each group were conditioned in saline with 3% fetal bovine serum albumin The conditioning media were analyzed for elemental release with atomic absorption spectroscopy Cytotoxic effects were assessed on human gingival fibroblast with a 3-(45-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-25-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) colorimetric assay The data were analyzed with 1-way and 2-way ANOVA and Tukey's HSD multiple comparison test (α-=05) Results Elemental compositions of Co-Cr and Au-Pt alloys were significantly different among casting protocols Elemental release of Co-Cr and Ni-Cr alloys was significantly different between new and recast specimens ( P P P P P Conclusions The results of this study indicated that alloys containing nickel have increased cytotoxic effects and that composition of the alloys affected the cytotoxicity Furthermore, recasting nickel-containing alloys with 65% surplus metal addition significantly increased the cytotoxic activity

Serum pro-hepcidin levels and relationships with iron parameters in healthy preterm and term newborns.

Abstract: A recently isolated peptide hormone, hepcidin, is thought to be the principal regulator of iron homeostasis. Hepcidin acts by limiting intestinal iron absorption and promoting iron retention in reticuloendothelial cells. Its precursor peptide form is called pro-hepcidin. The aims of this study were to determine serum pro-hepcidin levels in healthy preterm and term newborns, and to assess possible relationships between pro-hepcidin and serum iron, serum ferritin, and transferrin. A serum sample was collected from each of 26 healthy preterm (gestational age < 37 weeks) and 16 healthy, full-term, appropriate-for-gestational age babies. The preterm babies were also divided into 2 subgroups based on gestational age. Samples were analyzed for complete blood count, serum iron and ferritin concentrations, iron-binding capacity, and transferrin and pro-hepcidin levels. Group findings were compared and correlations between pro-hepcidin and the iron parameters were tested. The respective serum pro-hepcidin levels (mean +/- SD) in the 16 healthy term and 26 healthy preterm newborns were 482 +/- 371.9 ng/mL and 496.7 +/- 443.5 ng/mL. Analysis revealed no significant correlations between serum pro-hepcidin level and serum iron, serum ferritin, or transferrin in the preterm or term newborns. Pro-hepcidin levels were not correlated with gestational age in the preterm group. The results indicate that healthy preterm and term newborns have high pro-hepcidin levels.

A quality function deployment application using qualitative and quantitative analysis in after sales services

Abstract: A thorough and accurate understanding of customer demands and expectations is the key to possessing competitive advantage in the market place. Quality function deployment (QFD) is one of the most effective tools to learn, understand, and apply these demands and expectations in production lines. This study consists of a holistic QFD application comprising both qualitative and quantitative analysis techniques in after sales services at a leading construction equipment manufacturer firm. As a qualitative analysis method, content analysis was performed to identify customer dissatisfactions and customer expectations. As a quantitative analysis method, SERVQUAL was used to determine customer expectations for the house of quality (HOQ). Factor analysis was incorporated into SERVQUAL in order to classify customer expectations for the HOQ. As a result, the QFD identified the most important customer expectations as: competency and experience of employees, immediate identification of product defects, and good custom...