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.

The effect of organizational culture on implementing and sustaining lean processes

Abstract: Purpose – Lean systems thinking was widely studied using relevant variables, but there is a dearth of published theoretical or empirical evidence about the cultural aspects of lean processes. The lack of conceptual development is one of the motivations for this study. Do organizational cultural variations correlate with the success and effectiveness of lean processes? What organizational infrastructures are required for effective lean implementation and continuation? The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – Examining literature in the area of lean production and lean management, the authors sought current literature at the intersection of organizational culture and lean processes, particularly implementation and sustainability, but found little relating to the topic. Therefore, using the Competing Values Framework taxonomy, the authors examine this intersection, relying on related research in the areas. Findings – In this paper, a brief discussion of lean processes in relation to organizational culture leads to propositions that identify the various cultural dimensions and their purported effect on lean implementation and sustainability. A model of this interaction is developed. Those quadrants of the Competing Values Framework that might be useful in developing research directions for the future are identified. Research limitations/implications – Future research directions include the measurement of organizational culture in firms that have implemented lean processes. This would be a step toward looking at the effect that the different quadrants in the Competing Values Framework have on various elements of lean efforts. This would take a significant amount of work, because the manufacturing industry, the leader in implementing and sustaining lean processes, may have institutionalized particular organizational cultures. It would be an interesting step forward in the understanding of how lean processes are operationalized across different firms and industries. However, there are multiple ways to examine culture; the authors believe this method allows the capture of the entire spectrum. Practical implications – Knowing which dimensions influence lean effectiveness and the way that they wield that influence allows managers to develop the firm’s organizational culture to one that will support implementing and sustaining lean efforts. The challenge to implement and sustain lean processes lies in the need to identify the organizational culture infrastructure that will allow this system that was first used by Japanese firms to operate well in other organizational contexts. The values and norms that underlie lean processes may create conflict with the culture that already exists within the organization; such divergence retards adoption and performance. Originality/value – There is a lack of research at the critical intersection of organizational culture and lean implementation/sustainability. Culture is key to making the changes required of lean implementation and in sustaining the drive toward lean production and management. The paper begins to fill that gap.

Effects of metformin or rosiglitazone on serum concentrations of homocysteine, folate, and vitamin B12 in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Abstract: Objectives Metformin is widely used in patients with type 2 diabetes but may decrease vitamin B 12 levels and increase levels of homocysteine (Hcy), a cardiovascular risk factor. Rosiglitazone, a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ agonist, may reduce markers of inflammation. We investigated whether 6 weeks' treatment with metformin or rosiglitazone affects serum concentrations of Hcy, folate, or vitamin B 12 in subjects with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes compared with controls. Methods We examined 165 patients with type 2 diabetes. Fasting blood samples, a physical examination, and a complete medical history were performed at the beginning and at the end of the treatment. All blood samples were obtained after a 12-h fast. Results After treatment, metformin use was associated with an increase in levels of Hcy by 2.36 μmol/l and decreases in folate and vitamin B 12 concentrations by −1.04 ng/ml and −20.17 pg/ml. During rosiglitazone treatment, Hcy levels decreased by −0.92 μmol/l; folate and vitamin B 12 levels remained unchanged. Metformin and rosiglitazone significantly decreased levels of triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), total cholesterol (total-C), HbA1c, insulin, and homeostasis model assessment (HOMA). Metformin also significantly decreased body weight. In controls, there was no change in Hcy, folic acid, vitamin B 12 , TG, LDL, total-C, HbA1c, insulin, or HOMA levels. Homocysteine change did not correlate with insulin, folate, or vitamin B 12 changes in the metformin and rosiglitazone groups. Conclusions In patients with type 2 diabetes, metformin reduces levels of folate and vitamin B 12 and increases Hcy. Conversely, rosiglitazone decreases Hcy levels in this time period. The clinical significance of these findings remains to be investigated.

Plant-based diets to manage the risks and complications of chronic kidney disease

Abstract: Traditional dietary recommendations for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) focus on the quantity of nutrients consumed. Without appropriate dietary counselling, these restrictions can result in a low intake of fruits and vegetables and a lack of diversity in the diet. Plant nutrients and plant-based diets could have beneficial effects in patients with CKD: increased fibre intake shifts the gut microbiota towards reduced production of uraemic toxins; plant fats, particularly olive oil, have anti-atherogenic effects; plant anions might mitigate metabolic acidosis and slow CKD progression; and as plant phosphorus has a lower bioavailability than animal phosphorus, plant-based diets might enable better control of hyperphosphataemia. Current evidence suggests that promoting the adoption of plant-based diets has few risks but potential benefits for the primary prevention of CKD, as well as for delaying progression in patients with CKD G3-5. These diets might also help to manage and prevent some of the symptoms and metabolic complications of CKD. We suggest that restriction of plant foods as a strategy to prevent hyperkalaemia or undernutrition should be individualized to avoid depriving patients with CKD of these potential beneficial effects of plant-based diets. However, research is needed to address knowledge gaps, particularly regarding the relevance and extent of diet-induced hyperkalaemia in patients undergoing dialysis.

A Review of KDD99 Dataset Usage in Intrusion Detection and Machine Learning between 2010 and 2015

Abstract: Although KDD99 dataset is more than 15 years old, it is still widely used in academic research. To investigate wide usage of this dataset in Machine Learning Research (MLR) and Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS); this study reviews 149 research articles from 65 journals indexed in Science Citation In- dex Expanded and Emerging Sources Citation Index during the last six years (2010–2015). If we include papers presented in other indexes and conferences, number of studies would be tripled. The number of published studies shows that KDD99 is the most used dataset in IDS and machine learning areas, and it is the de facto dataset for these research areas. To show recent usage of KDD99 and the related sub-dataset (NSL-KDD) in IDS and MLR, the following de- scriptive statistics about the reviewed studies are given: main contribution of articles, the applied algorithms,

Etiology and outcome of acute kidney injury in children

Abstract: The aim of this prospective, multicenter study was to define the etiology and clinical features of acute kidney injury (AKI) in a pediatric patient cohort and to determine prognostic factors. Pediatric-modified RIFLE (pRIFLE) criteria were used to classify AKI. The patient cohort comprised 472 pediatric patients (264 males, 208 females), of whom 32.6% were newborns (median age 3 days, range 1–24 days), and 67.4% were children aged >1 month (median 2.99 years, range 1 month–18 years). The most common medical conditions were prematurity (42.2%) and congenital heart disease (CHD, 11.7%) in newborns, and malignancy (12.9%) and CHD (12.3%) in children aged >1 month. Hypoxic/ischemic injury and sepsis were the leading causes of AKI in both age groups. Dialysis was performed in 30.3% of newborns and 33.6% of children aged >1 month. Mortality was higher in the newborns (42.6 vs. 27.9%; p 1 month.