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Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14288/6

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    PublicationOpen Access
    What is the current role and what are the prospects of the robotic approach in liver surgery?
    (Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2022) Sijberden, J.P.; Hilal, M.A.; Bozkurt, Emre; Koç University Hospital
    Robotic liver surgery is being applied with increasing frequency. Comparable, and in specific settings superior, perioperative outcomes compared to laparoscopic liver surgery have been reported. In its current form, the most commonly mentioned advantage of robotic surgery is improved dexterity. Important obstacles to its wider implementation in daily clinical practice are the associated costs, technical difficulties, and a scarce amount of evidence. Robotic liver surgery will likely continue to evolve in parallel with technological developments that enhance the robots' abilities. In parallel with the historical development of minimally invasive surgery, the laparoscopic and robotic approaches are now frequently utilized to perform major abdominal surgical procedures. Nevertheless, the role of the robotic approach in liver surgery is still controversial, and a standardized, safe technique has not been defined yet. This review aims to summarize the currently available evidence and prospects of robotic liver surgery. Minimally invasive liver surgery has been extensively associated with benefits, in terms of less blood loss, and lower complication rates, including liver-specific complications such as clinically relevant bile leakage and post hepatectomy liver failure, when compared to open liver surgery. Furthermore, comparable R0 resection rates to open liver surgery have been reported, thus, demonstrating the safety and oncological efficiency of the minimally invasive approach. However, whether robotic liver surgery has merits over laparoscopic liver surgery is still a matter of debate. In the current literature, robotic liver surgery has mainly been associated with non-inferior outcomes compared to laparoscopy, although it is suggested that the robotic approach has a shorter learning curve, lower conversion rates, and less intraoperative blood loss. Robotic surgical systems offer a more realistic image with integrated 3D systems. In addition, the improved dexterity offered by robotic surgical systems can lead to improved intra and postoperative outcomes. In the future, integrated and improved haptic feedback mechanisms, artificial intelligence, and the introduction of more liver-specific dissectors will likely be implemented, further enhancing the robots' abilities.
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    PublicationOpen Access
    Evolutionary multiobjective feature selection for sentiment analysis
    (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), 2021) Pelin Angın; Deniz, Ayça; Department of International Relations; Angın, Merih; Faculty Member; Department of International Relations; College of Administrative Sciences and Economics; 308500
    Sentiment analysis is one of the prominent research areas in data mining and knowledge discovery, which has proven to be an effective technique for monitoring public opinion. The big data era with a high volume of data generated by a variety of sources has provided enhanced opportunities for utilizing sentiment analysis in various domains. In order to take best advantage of the high volume of data for accurate sentiment analysis, it is essential to clean the data before the analysis, as irrelevant or redundant data will hinder extracting valuable information. In this paper, we propose a hybrid feature selection algorithm to improve the performance of sentiment analysis tasks. Our proposed sentiment analysis approach builds a binary classification model based on two feature selection techniques: an entropy-based metric and an evolutionary algorithm. We have performed comprehensive experiments in two different domains using a benchmark dataset, Stanford Sentiment Treebank, and a real-world dataset we have created based on World Health Organization (WHO) public speeches regarding COVID-19. The proposed feature selection model is shown to achieve significant performance improvements in both datasets, increasing classification accuracy for all utilized machine learning and text representation technique combinations. Moreover, it achieves over 70% reduction in feature size, which provides efficiency in computation time and space.
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    PublicationOpen Access
    Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction Risk Index predicts one-year mortality in patients with heart failure: an analysis of the SELFIE-TR study
    (Karger Publishers, 2022) Güvenç, Rengin Çetin; Güvenç, Tolga Sinan; Çavusoğlu, Yüksel; Yılmaz, Mehmet Birhan; Ural, Dilek; Faculty Member; School of Medicine; 1057
    Objective: predicting outcomes is an essential part of evaluation in patients with heart failure (HF). While there are multiple individual laboratory and imaging variables, as well as risk scores available for this purpose, they are seldom useful during the initial evaluation. In this analysis, we aimed to understand predictive usefulness of Thrombosis in Myocardial Infarction Risk Index (TIMI-RI), a simple index that is calculated at bedside using three commonly available variables, using data from a multicenter HF registry. Subjects and Methods: a total of 728 patients from 23 centers were included to this analysis. Data on hospitalizations and mortality were collected by direct interviews, phone calls and electronic databases. TIMI-RI was calculated as defined before. Patients were divided into three equal tertiles to perform analyses. Results: rehospitalization for HF was significantly higher in patients within the 3rd tertile, and 33.5% of patients within the 3rd tertile were dead within one-year follow up as compared to 14.5% of patients within the 1st tertile and 15.6% patients within the 2nd tertile (p<0.001, log-rank p<0.001 for pairwise comparisons on survival analysis). A TIMI-RI higher than 33 had a negative predictive value of 84.8% and a positive predictive value of 33.8% for prediction of one-year mortality. This predictive usefulness was independent of other demographic, examination and clinical variables (OR:1.74, 95%CI:1.05-2.86, p=0.036). Conclusion: TIMI-RI is a simple index that predicts one-year mortality in patients with HF, and it could be useful for rapid evaluation and triage of HF patients at the time of initial contact.
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    PublicationOpen Access
    Autophagy and cancer dormancy
    (Frontiers, 2021) Akçay, Arzu; Akkoç, Yunus; Peker, Nesibe; Gözüaçık, Devrim; Faculty Member; Koç University Research Center for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM) / Koç Üniversitesi Translasyonel Tıp Araştırma Merkezi (KUTTAM); School of Medicine; N/A; N/A; 40248
    Metastasis and relapse account for the great majority of cancer-related deaths. Most metastatic lesions are micro metastases that have the capacity to remain in a non-dividing state called "dormancy" for months or even years. Commonly used anticancer drugs generally target actively dividing cancer cells. Therefore, cancer cells that remain in a dormant state evade conventional therapies and contribute to cancer recurrence. Cellular and molecular mechanisms of cancer dormancy are not fully understood. Recent studies indicate that a major cellular stress response mechanism, autophagy, plays an important role in the adaptation, survival and reactivation of dormant cells. In this review article, we will summarize accumulating knowledge about cellular and molecular mechanisms of cancer dormancy, and discuss the role and importance of autophagy in this context.
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    PublicationOpen Access
    The structural basis of Akt PH domain interaction with calmodulin
    (Elsevier, 2021) Jang, Hyunbum; Nussinov, Ruth; N/A; Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering; Department of Computer Engineering; Weako, Jackson; Keskin, Özlem; Gürsoy, Attila; Faculty Member; Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering; Department of Computer Engineering; Graduate School of Sciences and Engineering; College of Engineering; N/A; 26605; 8745
    Akt plays a key role in the Ras/PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. In breast cancer, Akt translocation to the plasma membrane is enabled by the interaction of its pleckstrin homology domain (PHD) with calmodulin (CaM). At the membrane, the conformational change promoted by PIP3 releases CaM and facilitates Thr308 and Ser473 phosphorylation and activation. Here, using modeling and molecular dynamics simulations, we aim to figure out how CaM interacts with Akt's PHD at the atomic level. Our simulations show that CaM-PHD interaction is thermodynamically stable and involves a beta-strand rather than an alpha-helix, in agreement with NMR data, and that electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions are critical. The PHD interacts with CaM lobes; however, multiple modes are possible. IP4, the polar head of PIP3, weakens the CaM-PHD interaction, implicating the release mechanism at the plasma membrane. Recently, we unraveled the mechanism of PI3K alpha activation at the atomistic level and the structural basis for Ras role in the activation. Here, our atomistic structural data clarify the mechanism of how CaM interacts, delivers, and releases Akt-the next node in the Ras/PI3K pathway-at the plasma membrane.
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    PublicationOpen Access
    REM-predominant obstructive sleep apnea in patients with coronary artery disease
    (Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2022) Newitt, Jennifer; Strollo, Patrick J., Jr.; Balcan, Mehmet Baran; Çelik, Yeliz; Peker, Yüksel; Researcher; Faculty Member; Koç University Research Center for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM) / Koç Üniversitesi Translasyonel Tıp Araştırma Merkezi (KUTTAM); School of Medicine; Koç University Hospital; N/A; N/A; 234103
    Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is common in adults with coronary artery disease (CAD). OSA that occurs predominantly during rapid-eye movement (REM) sleep has been identified as a specific phenotype (REM-predominant OSA) in sleep clinic cohorts. We aimed to examine the association of REM-predominant OSA with excessive sleepiness, functional outcomes, mood, and quality of life in a CAD cohort, of whom 286 OSA patients with total sleep time >= 240 min, and REM sleep >= 30 min, were included. REM-predominant OSA was defined as a REM-apnea-hypopnea-index (AHI) /non-REM (NREM) AHI >= 2. In all, 73 (25.5%) had REM-predominant OSA. They were more likely to be female (26.0% vs. 9.9%; p = 0.001), and more obese (42.5% vs. 24.4%; p = 0.003) but had less severe OSA in terms of AHI (median 22.6/h vs. 36.6/h; p < 0.001) compared to the patients with non-stage specific OSA. In adjusted logistic regression models, female sex (odds ratio [OR] 4.64, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.85-11.64), body-mass-index (BMI; OR 1.17; 95% CI 1.07-1.28) and AHI (OR 0.93, 95% CI 0.91-0.95) were associated with REM-predominant OSA. In univariate linear regression models, there was a dose-response relationship between REM-AHI and Zung Self-rated Depression Scale but not excessive sleepiness, functional outcomes, and anxiety scores. Among the Short Form-36 subdomains, Vitality, Mental Health, and Mental Component Summary (MCS) scores were inversely correlated with REM-AHI. In multivariate linear models, only MCS remained significantly associated with REM-AHI after adjustment for age, BMI, and sex (beta-coefficient -2.20, %95 CI [-0.56, -0.03]; p = 0.028). To conclude, female sex and BMI were related to REM-predominant OSA in this revascularized cohort. MCS was inversely associated with REM-AHI in the multivariate model.
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    PublicationOpen Access
    Low complexity adaptation for reconfigurable intelligent surface-based MIMO systems
    (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), 2020) Yiğit, Zehra; Altunbaş, İbrahim; Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering; Başar, Ertuğrul; Faculty Member; Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering; College of Engineering; 149116
    Reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS)-based transmission technology offers a promising solution to enhance wireless communication performance cost-effectively through properly adjusting the parameters of a large number of passive reflecting elements. This letter proposes a cosine similarity theorem-based low-complexity algorithm for adapting the phase shifts of an RIS that assists a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) transmission system. A semi-analytical probabilistic approach is developed to derive the theoretical average bit error probability (ABEP) of the system. Furthermore, the validity of the theoretical analysis is supported through extensive computer simulations.
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    PublicationOpen Access
    Hypothetical yet effective: computational identification of high-performing MOFs for CO2 capture
    (Elsevier, 2022) Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering; Demir, Hakan; Keskin, Seda; Faculty Member; Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering; College of Engineering; N/A; 40548
    With the advances in computational resources and algorithms, computer simulations are being increasingly used to tackle the most challenging problems of the world. Among them, CO2 capture is a topic that needs imminent attention as the presence of high levels of CO2 in the air can lead to drastic shifts in global climate. Here, a recently developed hypothetical metal-organic framework (MOF) database comprised of anion-pillared (AP) MOFs is computationally screened for the separation of CO2/CO, CO2/H-2, and CO2/N-2 gas mixtures at room temperature. The best performing MOFs are identified using three performance metrics, adsorption selectivity, working capacity, and regenerability, in conjunction. In these top materials, the preferential adsorption sites are illustrated, which will be useful in guiding the experimental design of new MOFs with extraordinarily high CO2 selectivities. The favorable separation performances of AP MOFs suggest that efficient gas separations can be conducted using MOFs without open metal sites.
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    PublicationOpen Access
    Virulence determinants of colistin-resistant K. pneumoniae high-risk clones
    (Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2021) Department of Industrial Engineering; Ergönül, Önder; Gönen, Mehmet; Can, Füsun; Doğan, Özlem; Vatansever, Cansel; Ataç, Nazlı; Albayrak, Özgür; Karahüseyinoğlu, Serçin; Şahin, Özgün Ekin; Kılıçoğlu, Bilge Kaan; Demiray, Atalay; Faculty Member; Faculty Member; Faculty Member; Faculty Member; Undergraduate Student; Researcher; Faculty Member; Master Student; Department of Industrial Engineering; School of Medicine; Graduate School of Health Sciences; College of Engineering; 110398; 237468; 103165; 170418; N/A; N/A; N/A; 110772; N/A; N/A; N/A
    We proposed the hypothesis that high-risk clones of colistin-resistant K. pneumoniae (ColR-Kp) possesses a high number of virulence factors and has enhanced survival capacity against the neutrophil activity. We studied virulence genes of ColR-Kp isolates and neutrophil response in 142 patients with invasive ColR-Kp infections. The ST101 and ST395 ColR-Kp infections had higher 30-day mortality (58%, p = 0.005 and 75%, p = 0.003). The presence of yersiniabactin biosynthesis gene (ybtS) and ferric uptake operon associated gene (kfu) were significantly higher in ST101 (99%, p <= 0.001) and ST395 (94%, p < 0.012). Being in ICU (OR: 7.9; CI: 1.43-55.98; p = 0.024), kfu (OR:27.0; CI: 5.67-179.65; p < 0.001) and ST101 (OR: 17.2; CI: 2.45-350.40; p = 0.01) were found to be predictors of 30-day mortality. Even the neutrophil uptake of kfu+-ybtS+ ColR-Kp was significantly higher than kfu--ybtS- ColR-Kp (phagocytosis rate: 78% vs. 65%, p < 0.001), and the kfu+-ybtS+ ColR-Kp survived more than kfu--ybtS- ColR-Kp (median survival index: 7.90 vs. 4.22; p = 0.001). The kfu+-ybtS+ ColR-Kp stimulated excessive NET formation. Iron uptake systems in high-risk clones of colistin-resistant K. pneumoniae enhance the success of survival against the neutrophil phagocytic defense and stimulate excessive NET formation. The drugs targeted to iron uptake systems would be a promising approach for the treatment of colistin-resistant high-risk clones of K. pneumoniae infections.
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    PublicationOpen Access
    Genome-wide analysis reveals regional patterns of drift, structure, and gene flow in longfin smelt (Spirinchus thaleichthys) in the northeastern Pacific
    (Canadian Science Publishing, 2021) Hobbs, James; Baxter, Randall; Lewis, Levi S.; Benjamin, Alyssa; Finger, Amanda J.; Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics; Sağlam, İsmail Kudret; Faculty Member; Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics; College of Sciences; 168783
    The southernmost stock of longfin smelt (Spirinchus thaleichthys) is approaching extirpation in the San Francisco Estuary (SFE); however, patterns of genetic structure, diversity and gene flow which are vital for management are poorly understood in this species. Here, we use genome-wide data to evaluate population structure of longfin smelt across a broad latitudinal scale across estuaries ranging from the SFE to Yakutat Bay and Lake Washington, and fine scale within the Fraser River and the SFE. Results indicate high genetic structure between major estuaries, fine-scale structure within the Fraser River, and low levels of structure within the SFE. Genetic structure was more pronounced between northern estuaries whereas southern estuaries showed shared ancestry and ongoing gene flow, most notably unidirectional northward migration out of the SFE. Furthermore, we detected signatures of local adaptation within the Fraser River and the Skeena River estuaries. Taken together, our results identify broad patterns of genetic diversity in longfin smelt shaped by co-ancestry, unidirectional migration and local adaptation. Results also suggest that the SFE population is genetically distinct from northernmost populations and an important source for maintaining nearby populations.