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Performance Comparison of Different PV Array Configurations Considering the Number of Bypass Diodes Under Partial Shading
No full textPartial shading is one of the most critical challenges affecting the performance and reliability of photovoltaic (PV) systems in real-world scenarios. Although bypass diodes are widely used to reduce mismatch losses in PV systems, their role is still under investigation. The effect of increasing their number on overall system performance is especially unclear for different PV array configurations. This study presents a comprehensive simulation-based analysis of how the number of bypass diodes influences the global maximum power point (GMPP) in four widely used PV array configurations: series-parallel, bridge-link, honey-comb, and total cross-tied. A MATLAB Simscape model is employed to simulate 30 shading scenarios. P-V curves are generated in order to determine the current, power, and voltage at GMPP for various bypass diode configurations, with between 6 and 24 cells per bypass diode. In this way, the individual performance of each case across different shading scenarios is compared, and the average values are computed to facilitate a comprehensive comparison of the overall performance among the so-called array configurations. The results not only reveal the relationship between array and bypass diode configurations but also offer new perspectives on how to maximize energy yield in shade-prone PV systems. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved
Psychosocial Perspective in Breast Cancer: From Diagnosis to Survivorship
No full textPatients diagnosed with breast cancer have a wide range of side effects due to multimodal treatment, from diagnosis to survivorship. Psychosocial problems are the most prominent and prolonged issue that needs to be addressed in detail. The quality of life of patients with breast cancer is not only decreased during the diagnosis but also the burden of treatment, uncertainties about the future, and the side effects of long-term treatment while living with a cancer diagnosis can affect patients negatively during survivorship. Psychosocial issues such as distorted body image, low self-esteem, and sexual problems can be observed along with the main experienceable psychological symptoms like anxiety, depression, anger, and worries about the future or death. Psychosocial problems experienced during breast cancer affect patients and their families, making disease management difficult. Interventions aiming to increase patients’ psychosocial adaptation to the disease should not be ignored from diagnosis to survival. At each stage, interventions should be planned to support patients in improving coping skills and trying to find meaning in the disease. Psychosocial supportive interventions for patients with breast cancer should be considered as part of cancer treatment. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved
EVALUATING RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY IN GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAINS: A MULTI-CRITERIA DECISION-MAKING APPROACH FOR POST-PANDEMIC CHALLENGES
No full textBackground: The COVID-19 pandemic exposed vulnerabilities in global supply chains, highlighting the urgent need for resilience and sustainability. As businesses recover and adapt, selecting sustainable suppliers has become crucial to ensure long-term environmental, social, and economic stability. Sustainable supplier selection not only supports these goals but also enhances competitive advantage in a rapidly changing business landscape. This study was initiated to address these post-pandemic challenges, providing a systematic evaluation of suppliers based on sustainability using multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods. It aims to assess the effectiveness of MEREC and CoCoSo methods in supporting sustainable supplier selection, offering insights and strategic guidance for businesses. To this end, it develops a novel approach integrating these methods that facilitates effective and sustainable supplier selection in the context of post-pandemic supply chain challenges. Methods: The study evaluates seven suppliers against five key criteria relevant to sustainable supply chains: environmental sustainability, social responsibility, cost, delivery time, and supplier reliability. The MEREC method is employed to assign weights to each criterion, establishing their relative importance in the supplier selection process. Following this, the CoCoSo method ranks the suppliers based on these weighted criteria, facilitating the identification of the most suitable supplier for sustainability-focused objectives. The combined use of MEREC and CoCoSo enables a robust and balanced approach to multi-criteria decision-making. Results: The MEREC analysis indicates that environmental sustainability and cost are the most critical criteria in sustainable supplier selection. Using the CoCoSo method, suppliers are ranked according to their performance across the criteria, with the top supplier offering the optimal sustainability balance. The findings support the use of these methods to prioritize suppliers aligned with sustainability goals, emphasizing the flexibility of CoCoSo in supplier ranking and the accuracy of MEREC in weight calculation. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the advantages of integrating the MEREC and CoCoSo methods in sustainable supplier selection processes. Its findings could guide businesses looking to optimize sustainability-focused decision making processes in supply chain management. Future studies could expand the scope of this research by including more criteria and alternatives, and the approach could be adapted for sustainable supply chain practices in various industries. Such studies would contribute to global supply chain sustainability by supporting companies in fulfilling their environmental and social responsibilities
DEFINITION OF MANUBRIOSTERNAL JOINT CHANGES IN THORAX COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY OF ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS PATIENTS AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH CLINICAL FEATURES
No full text[Abstract Not Available
Perceıved Socıal Support and Socıal Appearance Anxıety After Barıatrıc Surgery
No full textBackground: Patients undergoing bariatric surgery may need much more psychological and social support from their family and friends to maintain weight loss, recovery, and cope with social appearance anxiety. This study aims to determine the relationship between perceived social support and social appearance anxiety after bariatric surgery. Methods: This descriptive, correlational study was conducted between October and December 2022 in Turkey through voluntary response sampling technique. A total of 121 bariatric surgery patients generated the sample. The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) and the Social Appearance Anxiety Scale (SAAS) were used for data collection. Descriptive statistics, Mann Whitney U and Kruskal Wallis tests were performed to analyze the data. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences for Windows version 21.0. was used for data analysis. A p value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The average total score of perceived social support of the patients was 60.28±19.62 and the mean scores of family, friends, and significant others regarding the source of the support were 24.88±7.19, 19.70±7.06 and 18.69±8.69, respectively. The average total score of social appearance anxiety was 38.53±16.95. There was a statistically non-significant negative correlation between total scores of perceived social support and social appearance anxiety (?: - 0.102 p: 0.27). The social appearance anxiety total score differed according to gender, preoperative, and postoperative body mass index (p<0.05). Conclusion: The results showed that perceived social support does not affect social appearance anxiety after bariatric surgery. Multicenter studies with more homogeneous samples in terms of time elapsed after bariatric surgery are recommended. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved
Fibrin Scaffold With Concentrated Growth Factor and Stromal Vascular Fraction: A Novel Approach for Repairing Chronic Rotator Cuff Tears in a Rabbit Model
No full textBackground: Rotator cuff tears (RCTs) represent a significant challenge in orthopaedic care, particularly in chronic cases where tendon healing is suboptimal. Novel biological therapies such as concentrated growth factor (CGF) and stromal vascular fraction (SVF) offer promising solutions for enhanced tendon repair. Hypothesis: This study hypothesized that a fibrin scaffold enriched with CGF and SVF would improve tendon healing by reducing fatty degeneration, increasing vascularization, and enhancing biomechanical properties in a chronic RCT rabbit model. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: A chronic RCT model was developed in the subscapularis tendon of 28 male New Zealand rabbits. In the first phase (week 0), the chronic injury model was created surgically. At week 6, in addition to the transosseous repair technique, biological materials were applied into the bone tunnel in each group as follows: hydrogel (group 1), fibrin gel with CGF (group 2), CGF+SVF-enriched fibrin scaffold (group 3), and no repair (group 4). At week 12, animals were euthanized, and samples were collected for macroscopic, histological, immunohistochemical, and biomechanical analysis. Results: Group 3 demonstrated a superior result. Fatty degeneration was significantly lower in group 3 compared with group 1 (P = .045). Vascularization and cellularity scores were highest in group 3 (3.7 +/- 0.5 and 3.6 +/- 0.5, respectively), significantly greater than group 1 (1.4 +/- 0.5 and 1.3 +/- 0.5, respectively) (P = .024 and P = .004, respectively). Collagen fiber continuity and regularity scores were 3.7 +/- 0.5 and 3.6 +/- 0.5 in group 3, respectively, significantly better than group 1 (1.4 +/- 0.5 and 1.3 +/- 0.5, respectively) (P = .006 and P = .003, respectively). Biomechanical testing revealed the highest tensile strength in group 3 (116.14 +/- 8.49 N; P < .001). Midsubstance tears, indicating robust healing, were observed in 85.7% of tendons in group 3 compared with 28.6% in group 1 (P = .002). Notably, group 3 also demonstrated superior outcomes compared with group 2, with significantly greater tensile strength (116.14 +/- 8.49 N vs 100 +/- 6.85 N; P < .001) and improved histological parameters including reduced fatty degeneration, and increased vascularization and collagen fiber regularity. Conclusion: The inclusion of CGF and SVF in fibrin scaffolds significantly enhances tendon healing in chronic RCTs, outperforming the use of CGF alone. This combined biological approach offers a promising therapeutic strategy to optimize tendon repair outcomes. Clinical Relevance: These findings support the clinical potential of CGF and SVF in improving repair outcomes in chronic RCT cases in sports medicine
Anonim Şirketlerde Pay Sahiplerinin Bilgi Alma Hakkına (TTK m. 437) Mütedair İhtilafların Alternatif Uyuşmazlık Çözüm Yolları Marifetiyle Halli Hususunda Bazı Düşünceler
No full textKarar alma sürecinde bilgiye erişim hayati öneme sahiptir. Yeterli ve doğru bilgiye sahip olmaksızın iyi işleyen bir serbest pazar ekonomisi tesisi pek mümkün görünmemektedir. Serbest piyasa ekonomisinin en önemli aktörleri olan anonim şirket pay sahiplerinin de iştirak haklarını bihakkın istimal edebilmek için doğru zamanda yeterli bilgiye sahip olmaları iktiza eder. Türk Ticaret Kanunu bu maksada uygun bir bilgi akışını temin ve devam ettirmek amacıyla İsviçre anonim şirketler hukukunun üç kademeli bilgi alma sistemini (İsv. BK m. 697) iktibas etmiştir. Bilgi alma hakkının şirket genel kurulu sırasında ve haricinde elde edilmesi, şirket yönetiminin tutumuna bağlıdır. Bu bağlamda bilgi verilmesi talebi şirket sırlarının açıklanacağı veya muhafazası gereken sair şirket menfaatlerinin tehlikeye gireceği gerekçesi ile reddedilebilir. Bilgi alma talebi reddedilen, cevapsız bırakılan, ertelenen yahut hesap verme ve dürüstlük ilkeleri bakımından, özenli ve gerçeğe uygun bilgi alamayan pay sahipleri, asliye ticaret mahkemesine bilgi alma talebinin kabulü için müracaat edebilir. Ancak mahkemenin karar vermesi uzun sürebilmektedir. Bilgi çok değerli ve zaman hassasiyeti olan bir mefhum olduğundan ve şirket sırları yahut şirketin korunmaya değer menfaatleri ile irtibatlı bulunabileceğinden, bilgi alma talebi reddedildiği, ertelendiği ya da arzu edilen mahiyette bulunmadığı takdirde pay sahiplerine gizliliğe riayet edilen ve müessir ihtilaf çözüm mekanizmaları bahşedilmesi fevkalade mühimdir. Bu bağlamda, mevcut anonim şirketler sistemine alternatif ihtilaf çözüm yolları mekanizmalarının ilavesi ile (mahkemeye gitmeden evvel) bilgi alma sürecinin daha müessir ve süratli bir hale gelmesini temin maksadı ile Türk Ticaret Kanunu’nda gerekli düzenlemeler yapılarak ihtiyari arabuluculuk, arabuluculuk ve tahkim ve dava şartı arabuluculuk imkanları bahşedilmesi tavsiyeye şayandır
The effect of mother's voice and music therapy on pain and physiological parameters during the endotracheal suctioning procedure: A randomized controlled study
No full textObjective: This study aimed to examine the effects of maternal voice and music therapy on pain and physiological parameters during the endotracheal suctioning process in intubated children. Design: The study was a single-centre, randomized controlled trial. Setting: The Thoracic-Cardiovascular Surgery Intensive Care Unit of a University Hospital in Turkey. Methods: This study involved three groups of 27 children, aged between 2 and 36 months. All three groups, including the control group (CG), received the standard suction protocol before, during, and after each intervention. Additionally, the children in the music therapy (MT) group listened to music titled ‘The Happiest Child’, while the children in the mother's voice (MV) group listened to recordings of their mothers' voices. The variables assessed are pain and physiological parameters. Results: When the pain results of the children were evaluated, the pain score of the children in the control group was found to be significantly higher than children in the mother's voice and music voice group (p < .05). It was determined that the lowest FLACC Pain Scale value was in the mother's voice group (p < .05). When the physiological parameters results were evaluated, it was determined that the physiological measurement values of the children in the experimental group were positively affected (p < .05), there was a significant difference between the control group (p < .05) and the most effective result was in the mother's voice group (p < .05). Conclusions: The application of mother's voice and music therapy to children before, during and after the aspiration procedure reduces the pain of children, positively affects their physiological parameters and improves the quality of nursing care. Implications for clinical practice: This study provides a scientific basis for nursing practices in clinical settings and contributes to clinical practice by shedding light on future evidence-based studies. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved
Reliability of Different Protocols for Elbow Flexion and Extension Strength Measurement via Hand-held Dynamometer
No full textObjectives To investigate the reliability of elbow flexion and extension strength measurements via a hand-held dynamometer (HHD) in different positions and to determine the minimal detectable change (MDC). Design Reliability study. Methods Twenty healthy university students were evaluated at an exercise laboratory. Elbow flexion and extension strength were each measured by two physiotherapists in three different positions. Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) were calculated to assess intra-rater reliability (ICC 3,3) and inter-rater reliability (ICC 3,3) and were used to calculate MDC. Results All measurement procedures have excellent intra- and inter-rater reliability scores in females (0.88-0.98) and males (0.81-0.95), except for moderate intra-rater reliability (0.72) for seated measurement of elbow flexion strength with the shoulder at 90-degree flexion in males. There is a systematic difference in inter-rater results for all flexion positions and intra-rater results for one flexion position in males (p<0.05). MDC95% ranged from 3.44 to 11.69 for intra-rater scores and from 6.19 to10.79 for inter-rater scores. Conclusions All procedures showed excellent reliability, except for moderate intra-rater reliability in seated measurement of elbow flexion strength with the shoulder at 90-degree flexion in males. However, elbow flexion measurement was prone to systematic differences in males. Muscle strength of the tested individual and testers should be considered
Weibull Parameter Estimation Using Empirical and AI Methods: A Wind Energy Assessment in İzmir
No full textThis study evaluates the estimation of Weibull distribution parameters (shape, k; scale, c) for wind speed modeling in wind energy potential assessments. Traditional empirical methods-Justus Moment Method (JEM), Power Density Method (PDM), Energy Pattern Factor Method (EPFM), Lysen Moment Method (LAM), and Standard Deviation Empirical Method (SEM)-are compared with advanced artificial intelligence optimization algorithms (AIOAs), including Genetic Algorithm (GA), Gravitational Search Algorithm (GSA), Sine Cosine Algorithm (SCA), Teaching-Learning-Based Optimization (TLBA), Grey Wolf Optimizer (GWA), Red Fox Algorithm (RFA), and Red Panda Optimization Algorithm (RPA). Using hourly wind speed data from Fo & ccedil;a, Urla, Karaburun, and & Ccedil;e & scedil;me in Turkey, the analysis demonstrates that AIOAs, particularly GA, GSA, SCA, TLBA, and GWA, outperform empirical methods, achieving low RMSE (0.0071) and high R2 (0.9755). SEM and LAM perform competitively among empirical methods, while PDM and EPFM show higher errors, highlighting their limitations in complex wind speed distributions. The study also conducts a techno-economic analysis, assessing capacity factors, unit energy costs, and payback periods. Fo & ccedil;a and Urla are identified as optimal investment sites due to high energy yields and economic efficiency, whereas & Ccedil;e & scedil;me is unviable due to low production and long payback periods. This research provides a robust framework for Weibull parameter estimation, demonstrating AIOAs' superior accuracy and offering a decision-support tool for sustainable wind energy investments