Mehmed II Research Articles

The Entrance to Trabzon from East Gate: Tabakhane and Ortahisar

The city of Trabzon, was established on a plenary hillside which remains in between Tabakhane and Zagnos valleys horizontally. In resources, it is mentioned that the first usage of the city’s name was “Trapezus” which means “table” and this usage was a result of the city’s position, since it is established on a decent hillside which rises between two valleys. The east border of the study, which is the East Gate (Tabakhane Gate) of the historical walls, is important as it is the entrance point to the city through “Gavur Square”, which became the second centre of the city in time. The west border (Fatih Grand Mosque) of the study is also important since it is the oldest church of the city and it was the first example which was transformed into mosque due to Ottoman conquest procedures after the city was conquered by Fatih Sultan Mehmet. The border of the study is determined as the curled artery, which continues between these two historical elements and the public, and civil architectural examples in the artery from Tabakhane Mosque and Bridge to Fatih Grand Mosque are studied with a framework of historical chronology. In the first phase of the study, brief information about the history of Ortahisar is composed and data about the historical structures in the determined area (Tabakhane Gate, Bridge and Mosque, Ortahisar and Old Government House, Fatih Grand Mosque) are compiled. In the second phase of the study, the space between the city’s east gate (Tabakhane Gate) and the Fatih Grand Mosque (Panaghia Chrysokephalos Church), which is one of the most important sacred structures, transformed from church and still exists today, is evaluated by comparing the oldest photos that can be reached, archive documents from the Directorate of Cultural and Natural Heritage Conservation Board in Trabzon region, historical plans and the recent photos that are taken from close points. Evaluation of the subject is made through legal regulations, conscious of protection and Architectural approach. With this study, it is shown that how the area, which is determined as a 2nd degree urban protected area, exposed to interventions in the historical context. The evolution of the consciousness of protecting history in Ortahisar, the oldest centre of the city, from Republic to today, is analysed and argued. In this study, it is evaluated how the historical urban fabric of Trabzon resist towards deformations and illegal structuring, in the historical continuity. Interventions to historical fabric, violation of the legal borders and unqualified spots mixed in the historical memory in an urban protected area are emphasized. Upon the light of the consequences that are reached, the study aims to contribute to the architectural protection conscious and to set an example for studies of city history and protection in local/regional means. As a result of observations and studies made in the field, it is seen that public structures are more important than civil architecture in terms of conservation approach in and around Ortahisar. Because of the several legal regulations and interventions made unconsciously, it is seen that the functional continuity interrupted in the historic city centre. On the other side, it is observed that the protection practices carried out in the field remain at the regional level, can not be integrated with other parts of the city, and the visual, social and functional relations can not be established. It is also seen that, the reconstructed buildings are not in harmony with the historical background, and the use of green space is becoming inefficient. In the study, it is concluded that the Legal regulations, which are the 1965 Property Law and the 1985 Construction Law, are among the important factors affecting the mentioned transformation and change process.

Ultrasound-guided subcostal-posterior transversus abdominis plane block for pain control following laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.

Objectives:To investigate the analgesic effect of a subcostal-posterior transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block combination following laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.Methods:This study was conducted at Fatih Sultan Mehmet Educational and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey, between March 2014 and June 2015. A total of 40 patients with a body mass index of 40-60 kg/m2 scheduled for laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy were randomly allocated into 2 groups. Patients in Group I (n=20) received a bilateral subcostal TAP block, and patients in Group II (n=20) received a bilateral subcostal and posterior TAP block. Pain intensity was assessed at rest and during coughing using the visual analog scale (VAS) prior to and at various time points after TAP block (0 min, 30 min, 2 hours, 4 hours, 6 hours, 12 hours, and 24 hours). Morphine consumption over 24 hours and time to first morphine requirement were recorded.Results:There was no difference in VAS scores between groups. Morphine consumption was 6.78±5.95 mg in Group I, and 7.28±5.95 mg in Group II (p=0.795). Time to first morphine requirement was 267.22±303.84 min for Group I, and 207.80±209.81 min for Group II (p=0.154).ConclusionsSubcostal-posterior TAP block provided equivalent analgesia to subcostal TAP block alone following laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.

Case study on perspicacity of collaborative learning experiences

In the attempt to relate to the architectural practice, architectural education today has augmented the development of collaborative learning environment in the campus scenario. Presently, collaborative work among students from the same program and university is considered common. Hence, attempts of collaboration is extended into having learning and teaching collaboration by means of inter-universities. The School of Architecture, at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) has explored into having collaboration across the continent with Fatih Sultan Mehmet Waqf University (FSMWU), among faculty members and students of the two (2) universities This paper explicates the empirical study on students’ perspicacity of their collaborative learning experiences; in term of effectiveness, generative behaviour, and teamwork. Survey with three (3) open-ended questions are distributed to students to express their opinions on learning collaboration that they have had during the execution of the Joint Summer School Program (JSSP). Feedback on their perspicacity is obtained and organised into numerical and understandable data display, using qualitative data processing software. Albeit the relevancy of collaborative learning, students gave both positive and negative feedbacks on their experiences. Suggestions are given to enhance the quality of collaborative learning experience for future development

Structural health monitoring system of the long-span bridges in Turkey

This study presents the general features of the structural health monitoring (SHM) system of the long-span cable-supported bridges in Turkey, namely the First Bosphorus Bridge, the Second Bosphorus Bridge (Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge), the newly constructed the Third Bosphorus Bridge (Yavuz Sultan Selim) and the Osman Gazi Bridge (Izmit Bay Bridge). Due to the critical function of the bridges in the transportation networks of Istanbul, structural health under extreme and operational load cases without interruption of their operation is essential. The SHM systems are already available and in use for the First and Second Bosphorus Bridges; however, the Yavuz Sultan Selim and the Osman Gazi Bridges, only have the preliminary SHM systems established. General preferences of the current and planned SHM systems of the bridges are given based on the monitoring objectives and requirements. Data collected from the SHM systems are also exhibited as an illustration for structural modal identification of the First Bosphorus Bridge. Based on the experiences from the current SHM systems, future works and planning are recommended to effectively design new SHM system and to efficiently update the current ones.

Suicides by Jumping Off Istanbul Bridges Linking Asia and Europe.

The aim of this study was to determine the injury spectrum and characteristics of people who committed suicide by jumping into water from the July 15th Martyrs Bridge and Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridges in Istanbul, Turkey. This study included all of the jumpers from the July 15th Martyrs Bridge and Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge who were autopsied by the Council of Forensic Medicine, Istanbul Morgue Department, between 2000 and 2013. All of the data were collected from archived case files. Trauma scores were calculated from the traumatic findings of the autopsy reports using the New Injury Severity Score (NISS). A total of 80 jumping suicides were identified. The male-to-female ratio was 9:1, and the mean age was 34.06 ± 9.6 years. Most suicides occurred in 2009. The suicide rates were higher in the winter, particularly in December. The most frequent injuries were skin lesions, rib fractures, and lung lacerations. In 12% of the cases, the trauma was minor (NISS range, 0-14; mean, 7 ± 5.67), and in 88% of the cases, it was major (NISS range, 17-66; mean NISS, 44.5 ± 12.46). The sociodemographic features of the jumpers who committed suicide were quite similar to those reported in previous studies. Preventative measures (installation of barriers or banning pedestrian access to bridges) reduced the suicide rate but were not completely effective. Establishing early warning systems and rescue strategies could save the lives of jumpers who have minor trauma.

The relationship between thyroid antibody titer and levothyroxine dose in patients with overt primary hypothyroidism.

BACKGROUNDBoth excess and insufficient thyroid hormone replacement may produce adverse effects in various target tissues; therefore, understanding factors that affect achievement of target TSH levels is crucial.OBJECTIVEInvestigate the relationship between antibody titers and levothyroxine dose.DESIGNRetrospective, review of data in medical records.SETTINGThyroid center of Fatih Sultan Mehmet Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.PATIENTS AND METHODSThe study population consisted of patients that had been diagnosed as having overt primary hypothyroidism and were taking levothyroxine for at least one year. The serum TSH level for an euthyroid state was between 0.5–4 mIU/L. The levels of anti-thyroid peroxidase (TPOAb) considered positive for antibodies were <5.6 IU/mL and for anti-thyroglobulin (TgAb) autoantibodies <4.10 IU/mL.MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREDaily levothyroxine doses of antibody-positive and negative patients and association of daily drug requirement with antibody titers.RESULTSThe study population consisted of the 303 patients (273 females and 30 males with the mean [SD] age of 46.6 [13.2] years). In the antibody-positive group (n=210) average daily levothyroxine dose was statistically significantly higher than in the antibody-negative group (n=93) (mean of 78.8 [36.7] vs 64.2 [27.1] mg/day, P=.001, respectively). There was a low but statistically significant positive relationship between the TPOAb (r=0.217, P<.01) and TgAb levels (r=0.158, P<.05) and levothyroxine doses in the antibody-positive group.CONCLUSIONAntibody titers are positively associated with larger levothyroxine (LT-4) replacement dosing in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis.LIMITATIONUnknown antibody titers before starting levothyroxine use.

Drug-Related Cardiac Arrest During Open Craniotomy

Copyright: © 2015 Ari ED. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. *Corresponding author: Dilek Erdogan Ari, Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul,Turkey, E-mail: dilekerdoganari@gmail.com

FE Model of the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Suspension Bridge Using Thin Shell Finite Elements

This paper presents the results of an eigenvalue analysis of the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge. A high-resolution finite element model was created directly from the available design documents. All physical properties of the structural components were included in detail, so no calibration to the measured data was necessary. The deck and towers were modeled with shell elements. A nonlinear static analysis was performed before the eigenvalue calculation. The calculated natural frequencies and corresponding mode shapes showed good agreement with the available measured ambient vibration data. The calculation of the effective modal mass showed that nine modes had single contributions higher than 5 % of the total mass. They were in a frequency range up to 1.2 Hz. The comparison of the results for the torsional modes especially demonstrated the advantage of using thin shell finite elements over the beam modeling approach.

Adaptation and validation of the Michigan Incontinence Severity Index in a Turkish population.

ObjectiveTo translate and validate the Michigan Incontinence Severity Index (M-ISI) for its use in Turkish-speaking women with urinary incontinence.MethodsThe translation and cross-cultural adaptation were based on international guidelines. Content validity by content validity ratio/content validity index, internal consistency by Cronbach’s alpha, test–retest reliability by Pearson’s correlation, and construct validity by using Spearman rank correlations to show the relationship between individual items and the relevant domains and subdomains were analyzed in 100 female participants with a chief complaint of urinary incontinence. Correlations between the relevant scores of M-ISI and The International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire – Short Form scores were analyzed to indicate convergent validity. The Varimax rotation method was used to conduct exploratory factor analysis in order to investigate the factor structures/distribution of M-ISI items.ResultsContent validity index and content validity ratio values increased to 0.97 and 1.00, respectively, showing sufficient content validity of the Turkish version of the M-ISI. The analysis formed three factors which was slightly different from original developers. In our proposed three-factor construct, all of the ten items demonstrated high correlations with their subdomains and lower correlations with the other domains, indicating good construct validity. Correlations between stress urinary incontinence and urge urinary incontinence (UUI) scores and The International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire – Short Form scores were found high, which indicated convergent validity (r: 0.953, P<0.001). Good internal consistency of the scores for each subdomain was observed (stress urinary incontinence, 0.787; UUI, 0.862; pad usage and bother, 0.832). Test–retest reliability was shown for each subdomain (stress urinary incontinence, 0.973; UUI, 0.973; pad usage and bother, 0.979).ConclusionThe translated and cross-culturally adapted M-ISI showed good validity, reproducibility, and reliability that allow its use in Turkish-speaking populations with urinary incontinence. Its comprehensive structure means that it has become a practical instrument that is available for utilization in the primary health care setting, clinical research, and epidemiological trials in Turkey.

Response of the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Suspension Bridge under spatially varying multi-point earthquake excitations

The study aims at investigating the structural behavior of the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Suspension Bridge, i.e. the second Bosphorus Bridge in Turkey, under multi-point earthquake excitations, and determining the earthquake performance of the bridge based on the results obtained from this analysis. For this objective, spatially varying ground motions in triple direction were produced for each support of the bridge considering the Mw=7.4 scenario earthquakes on the main Marmara Fault. In order to simulate the ground motions, modified stochastic finite-fault technique was utilized. Taking the ground motions into account, non-linear time-history analysis was carried out, and the results obtained from the analysis were compared to those from uniform support earthquake excitation to identify the effects of multi-point earthquake excitations on the seismic performance of the bridge. From the analysis, it was determined that modal response of the towers and the deck was mostly effective on dynamic response of the entire bridge rather than other structural elements, such as cable and approach viaduct. Compared to the results obtained from simple-point earthquake excitation, noticeable axial force increase in the cable elements was obtained under multi-point earthquake excitation. The changes at the main cable and the side span cable were determined as 21% and 18%, respectively. This much increase in the cable elements led to increase in axial force at the towers and in shear force at the base section of the tower column. These changes in the structural elements were closely related to response of the deck and the towers since they had considerable contribution to response of the entire bridge. Based on the findings from the study, spatially varying ground motions has to be considered for long span suspension bridges, and the multi-support earthquake analysis should be carried out for better understanding and obtaining reliable results necessary for retrofitting and performance evaluation.

Predictive Value of the Platelet-To-Lymphocyte Ratio in Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer

To predict prostatic carcinoma using a logistic regression model on prebiopsy peripheral blood samples. Data of a total of 873 patients who consulted Urology Outpatient Clinics of Fatih Sultan Mehmet Training and Research Hospital between February 2008 and April 2014 scheduled for prostate biopsy were screened retrospectively. PSA levels, prostate volumes, prebiopsy whole blood cell counts, neutrophil and platelet counts, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), biopsy results and Gleason scores in patients who had established diagnosis of prostate cancer (PCa) were evaluated. This study was performed on a total of 873 cases, with an age range 48-76 years, divided into three groups as for biopsy results. with diagnoses of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) (n=304, 34.8 %), PCa (n=265, 30.4%) and histological prostatitis (n=304; 34.8%). Intra- and intergroup comparative evaluations were performed. White blood cell and neutrophil counts in the histological prostatitis group were significantly higher than those of the BPH and PCa groups (p=0.001; p=0.004; p<0.01). A statistically significant intergroup difference was found for PLR (p=0.041; p<0.05) but not lymphocyte count (p>0.05). According to pairwise comparisons, PLR were significantly higher in the PCa group relative to BPH group (p=0.018, p<0.05, respectively). Though not statistically significant, higher PLR in cases with PCa in comparison with the prostatitis group was remarkable (p=0.067, and p>0.05, respectively). Meta-analyses showed that in patients with PSA levels over 4 ng/ml, positive predictive value of PSA is only 25 percent. Therefore, novel markers which can both detect clinically significant prostate cancer, and also prevent unnecessary biopsies are needed. Relevant to this issue in addition to PSA density, velocity, and PCA3, various markers have been analyzed. In the present study, PLR were found to be the additional predictor of prostatic carcinoma.

Simulating urban growth driven by transportation networks: A case study of the Istanbul third bridge

Increasing populations and the related transport volumes are problematic for metropolitan regions in Istanbul especially due to the separation of the city by the Bosphorus strait, which creates significant congestion, delays, and carbon dioxide emissions. A third bridge north of the two existing bridges that will bypass the urban areas in Istanbul is under construction to address these challenges. The new Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge project will transect the most important natural areas. The main purpose of this paper is to investigate urban growth driven by transport networks as observed after the construction of the two existing bridges and the probable impact the third bridge will have on land use and land cover (LULC) via a cellular automata (CA) based simulation technique. The time periods selected for model calibration were 1972, 1987, 2002, and 2009 because the first bridge (Bosphorus Bridge) was built in 1973 and the second bridge (Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge) in 1988. An urban growth simulation model was generated for the year 2030, and a change detection analysis was performed between 1972–2009 and 2009–2030 to determine the probable natural areas threatened by urbanization. According to the results, Istanbul will continue to grow northward with 41% of forested areas and 28% of fragile ecosystem areas transforming into urban areas between 2009 and 2030.

Online system for monitoring the safety of engineering structures

Original scientific paper Monitoring engineering structures is a very important issue for the safety of these structures. Maintaining the safety of engineering structures depends on determining the possible deformations to the structures and taking the necessary precautions in time. In this instance, monitoring the structures became a very important problem. In this study, a prototype of web-based online monitoring system design and implementation was carried out for monitoring the movements of Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge which was one of Istanbul’s suspended bridges. Raw observations taken by geodetic instruments can be filtered by different filtering techniques and can be analyzed by trend and FFT analysis methods. With the help of these techniques, overall monitoring of the structure was possible. Designed monitoring system can be used on different types of engineering structures such as skyscrapers and dams. With the help of this online monitoring system, project managers or any other officials, in the office, can see the observations in real time and can analyze the results while operators are working near the structure.

Impact of Ottoman Scientific Advancement in the Era of Sultan Muhammad al-Fatih (Mehmed the Conqueror) towards the Ottoman Scientific Zenith

The main criteria of a developed country lie in its scientific and technological development. Nevertheless, in developing those fields in a nation, it starts with its ruler and his rule. In the case of the Ottomans, the field of science and technology was stagnant in the early stage of their rule. Through transformations in the field of science and technology undertaken by Sultan Muhammad al-Fatih (Mehmed the Conqueror) as the seventh ruler of the Ottomans during his reign, this field experienced its advancement era. In the subsequent years (post-Sultan Muhammad al-Fatih era), the field of science and technology attained its golden age. Hence, the objective of this paper is to analyse the impact of scientific advancement in the era of Sultan Muhammad al-Fatih towards the Ottoman scientific zenith in the subsequent era. This study employed a qualitative approach via a historical research design and was analysed using a method of content analysis and deduction by examining authoritative sources in Ottoman studies. Through this study, it was found that the transformation brought about by Sultan Muhammad al-Fatih in the field of science and technology during his era succeeded in elevating the scientific fields of the Ottomans to a new height of glory. The impact can be seen in material and non-material cultures of the Ottoman society in post-Sultan Muhammad al-Fatih era. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n29p81

Bosna’da Değişmeyen Fatih Algısı

Fâtih Sultan Mehmet’in 1463 yilinda Bosna-Hersek’i feth edisinin uzerinden 550 yil gecmis. Bu 550 yillik zaman dilimi icerisinde degisen sartlara, yonetimlere, cografyaya ve nesillere ragmen Bosna’da degismeyen nadir seylerden biri de Bosnalilarin babadan ogula kutlu bir miras gibi tasidiklari Fâtih Sultan Mehmet sevgisi. Bosna-Hersek’te Fâtih Sultan Mehmet’e duyulan muhabbetin bir cok tezahurune rastlamak mumkun. Nitekim Fâtih Sultan Mehmet’in Bosna-Hersek’in fethi sirasinda batida ulastigi en uc nokta olan Sanski-Most sehrinde askerine cuma namazi kildirdigi “Musalla”da geleneksel olarak duzenlenen “Fetih Senlikleri” bu muhabbetin en onemli gostergelerindendir. Biz de bu calismamizda Fâtih Sultan Mehmet’e duyulan sevginin bu somut karsiliklarinin yaninda Bosnak toplumunun kanaatlerine onderlik ettiklerini dusundugumuz kisilerle “ Bosna’da Degismeyen Fâtih Algisi ” uzerine mulâkatlar gerceklestirdik. Bu mulâkatlardan cikan sonuclara kaynak taramalarindan elde ettigimiz veriler ile kendi kisisel gozlem ve yorumlarimizi da ilave edip makalemizi sonuclandirdik. Anahtar kelimeler: Algi, Bosna-Hersek, Fâtih Sultan Mehmet, fetih, ebedi

Ali Alparslan Hoca (1922–2006)

Ali Alparslan became a full professor in 1980 on the field of Old Turkish Literature. eHHY He was an expert in calligraphy and recognized as one of the greatest master in the theoretical and practical studies. He was specialized on Ta’lik especially in the area of writing Diwani, Diwani Jali and Rica. He has written many books in the subject also published many articles on scientific journals on Turkish Literature. Prof. Dr. Ali ALPARSLAN died in January 24, 2006. This article is contains information on the occasion of memorial panel on his written and assess facets of his calligraphic studies. The presentation and discussion was held at the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Foundation University Faculty of Fine Arts in Istanbul.

Effectiveness of Pyridoxine and Pyridostigmine in the Treatment of Vincristine-Induced Bilateral Ptosis and External Ophthalmoplegia: A Case Report

Osman Okan Olcaysu*, Ahmet Altun**, Elif Olcaysu***, Sertac Argun Kivanc**, Zuhal Keskin Yildirim**** *Erzurum Region Education and Research Hospital, Clinic of Ophthalmology, Erzurum, Turkey **Fatih Sultan Mehmet Education and Research Hospital, Clinic of Ophthalmology, Istanbul, Turkey ***Uludag University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Bursa Turkey ****Ataturk University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Erzurum, Turkey

Multi-Purpose Empire: Ottoman History in Republican Turkey

This article examines popular, academic and political perceptions of the Ottoman Empire in Republican Turkey, challenging the widespread assumption that there has been a continuous clash between pro-Ottoman Islamists and secular, anti-Ottoman, Kemalists. It argues that in the Republican period Kemalists effectively appropriated the Ottoman past for use in their nationalist narrative, not only through using a ‘theory of fatal decline’ but also by simply defining positive cultural or political symbols from the years 1299 to 1923 as ‘Turkish’ rather than ‘Ottoman’. This serves as a backdrop for the article's main argument, that the 1940s and 1950s saw a thorough Kemalist appropriation of the Ottoman past, celebrating the empire's golden age as secular, pro-western and Turkish. The 500th anniversary of the conquest of Istanbul in 1953 gave the Turkish government an opportunity to showcase this new interpretation of Ottoman history as well as to use the relatively new rhetoric of ‘Ottoman tolerance’ to claim for Turkey a place among its new allies in the democratic, anti-communist West. At the level of domestic politics, the Democratic Party sought to wrap its modernization policies in the mantle of a progressive, democratic Fatih Sultan Mehmet II, while the Republican People's Party condemned the Democrats for betraying Fatih's memory and the nation's honour by downplaying the Ottoman past in order to placate potential anti-communist allies in Greece and the Arab world. Ultimately, the article argues that it is impossible to understand contemporary Islamist and liberal uses of the Ottoman past without understanding the way the empire was incorporated into the dominant Turkish nationalist narrative between 1923 and 1953.

Histopathological Characteristics of Nasal Polyps in Smokers and Non-Smokers

It is known that cigarette smoking causes squamous metaplasia in upper and lower airways. We hypothesized that in patients with nasal polyposis, nasal polyps of smokers might reveal some histopathological changes and there might be an increased neoplasia risk. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to explore the effects of smoking on nasal polyp histopathology and clinical measures. Retrospective chart review. Fatih Sultan Mehmet Education and Research Hospital. Thirty smoker and 47 non-smoker patients with nasal polyposis who underwent endoscopic sinus surgery between 2007 and 2011 were enrolled in this study to assess effect of smoking on histopathological characteristics of nasal polyps and clinical measures such as endoscopy score, computed tomography score of Lund-Mackay, Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) Scale, presence of allergy and asthma, and blood eosinophil level. No statistically significant differences were found between smoker and non-smoker groups with regard to histopathological findings. Also, there were no significant correlation defined by endoscopy, computed tomography, and NOSE scores of patients between 2 groups. Smoking did not have a significant effect on the presence of allergy or asthma. But blood eosinophil levels were found to be significantly high in the smoker group. This is the first clinical study that investigates the effect of smoking on nasal polyp histopathology. In spite of the fact that smoking is associated with histopathological changes in respiratory mucosa, we did not find any significant change in histopathological characteristics of nasal polyps in smokers.

Analysis of Toll Queues by Micro-simulation: Results from a Case Study in Istanbul

In this study, using a microsimulation model, queues of Fatih Sultan Mehmet (FSM) Bridge toll booths are analyzed. Generally two queues form in the study area. First one is in front of the booths and the second one is after the booths, due to the existing bottleneck between the booths and the Bridge. Queue/delay performance of the system is analyzed incorporating the queuing theory. According to demand and service time of each server, queue may occur before the booths and/or before the bottleneck. The propagation of the second queue may overlap the first one because of the bottleneck capacity and for sure the increasing demand. Four different scenarios are simulated in order to evaluate capacity of the toll collectors and the bottleneck section. Some traffic management strategies are applied to improve the quality of service by decreasing delays and increasing capacities. In each scenario, average delay time per vehicle, average travel time, occupancy and speed data are obtained with microsimulation software, Vissim. Finally, optimum number of toll collectors is determined by seeking to minimize delays and maximize bottleneck capacity.