Murat Çinko

Is there a role for BLADE acquisition in T2-weighted breast MRI?

Background: Standard T2-weighted (T2W) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a necessary component of routine breast MRI. However, breast MRI suffers from minor subject movements, which degrade the image quality. BLADE acquisition MRI is a promising motion degradation method currently used in brain imaging. Purpose: To compare T2W BLADE acquisition breast MR images with routine T2W images in the evaluation of motion artifacts and overall image quality. Material and Methods: MRI was performed with a 1.5 T system on 25 volunteers and 25 consecutive patients with identical imaging parameters for both MRI sequences (TR 5240 ms, TE 112–108 ms, acquisition 1, spatial resolution 0.9×0.9× 4 mm). Motion and flow artifacts and pectoral muscle and lesion contour delineations were assessed. Signal to noise ratios (SNRs) of images and contrast to noise ratios (CNRs) of the incidental lesions were calculated. The results were evaluated with the Wilcoxon signed-ranks test. Results: Of the 50 patients, 44 were included in the analysis (mean age 42.1 years). Motion artifacts were prominent in 48% cases on routine T2W and in only 2% of BLADE cases. The SNR values of BLADE images were significantly higher than routine T2W (P<0.05). Pectoral muscle contours were better assessed on BLADE in all cases. Sequence performances were similar in flow artifacts, CNR values, and contour delineation of incidental lesions. The readers chose BLADE sequence MRI in 25 cases and found the overall performance of sequences equal in 19 cases. None of the readers preferred routine T2W to BLADE. Conclusion: The performance of BLADE is superior to routine T2W images in eliminating motion artifacts, provides better SNRs, shows detailed pectoral muscle contours, and may be the sequence of choice.

Integrating Turkish Work and Achievement Goals With Schwartz's Human Values.

The purpose of this study was to examine the integration of indigenous values developed in Turkey to Schwartz’s universal values. Students (N = 593) from six universities in Istanbul responded the value scale, which consists of 10 etic PVQ items (each item representing one of 10 main Schwartz values) and 23 emic WAG items (representing work-achievement goals). PROXSCAL, a multidimensional scaling method, was used to test whether etic and emic sets of values integrate and form the universal circular structure proposed in Schwartz value theory. The motivational continuum of values as a circular structure was similar to pan-cultural results, but adding another value type to the openness to change pole. While some of the items in this region represent autonomy of thought, remaining items diverge. The principle of conflicting values on opposite poles was not supported in relation to openness to change-conservation dimension. These two poles had similar priorities, contrasting with pan-cultural results, and demonstrating a culture-specific aspect of responding to motivational goals. Insights gained by emic studies will be functional in enriching understanding values, and contributing to the comprehensiveness and universality of Schwartz value theory.

Modeling company failure: a longitudinal study of Turkish banks

Determining the factors related to the financial failure of a company is important. In this paper, we extend literature on bank failure prediction by modelling bank failures in Turkey from 1998 to 2000 using three statistical models combined with a principal component analysis on financial ratios. The three statistical models employed are a logistic regression, a logistic regression that takes serial correlation into account via generalized estimating equations and a marginalized transition model (MTM). Time and financial ratios that are related with capital adequacy and profitability, risk, non-interest income and Fx assets to Fx liabilities are found to be significant in classifying failed banks. Each of our methods achieves a correct classification rate of 93.3%. Among the three models, MTM, which is the soundest model in terms of statistical assumptions, shows slightly better model fit properties.

Value-Personality Link Measured With Novel Instruments Developed With an Emic Perspective

The first aim of this study is to investigate whether instruments developed with an emic approach in Turkey produce the same trait-value links obtained with studies using near universal instruments, and if emic traits and value concepts are composed under agency and communal conceptions. So, the first aim of this study is to inspect the conceptual similarities in the links between traits and values. The second aim is to examine the moderating effect of disposable income on the strength of the trait-value relationship. Undergraduate and graduate students (N = 595) from six universities in Istanbul responded to the Personality Profile Scale (PPS) and the Life Goal Values (LGV) questionnaire. Second order factor analysis indicated that indigenous value and trait items were representative of communal and agency conceptions. Furthermore, most of the value-trait links revealed with regression analysis, and the sinusoid relationships revealed with Pearson correlation coefficients were consistent with the findings measured with near universal instruments. Additionally found relationships between traits and especially conservation values can be interpreted as the instrumentality of agentic traits for personal as well for social focused values. Disposable income had a moderating effect on five trait-value relationships and three out of five were weaker in the low-income group.

Endeks getirilerinin yapay sinir agları modelleri ile tahmin edilmesi: Gelismekte olan Avrupa borsaları uygulaması

Calismamizda yapay sinir aglari (YSA) modellerinin 6 gelismekte olan ulke, ki bu ulkeler Avrupa Toplulugu’nun 5 yeni uyesi ve biri aday ulkeden olusmaktadir, borsalarindaki gunluk endeks getirilerini tahmin etmedeki etkinligi incelenmistir. Calismanin bulgulari gostermistir ki MSE, NMSE, MAE ve trend dogrulugu performans olcutleri karli modellerin belirlenmesinde yetersiz kalmaktadir. Gelistirilen YSA modelleri cogu donemlerde piyasa uzerinde getiri saglamistir. Fakat, hic bir YSA modeli surekli olarak piyasaya ve diger YSA modellerine ustunluk saglayamamistir.