Current Account Deficits, Macroeconomic Policy Stance and Governance: An Empirical Investigation

This paper empirically investigates the effects of institutional and macroeconomic policy stance variables on current account deficits (CAD). Based on cross-section data for a broad number of developing and industrial countries, the results strongly suggest that better governance increases whilst the presence of original sin decreases the ability of an economy to sustain CAD. Exchange rate flexibility and openness appear to put a discipline on CAD. Consistent with the equity home bias and Feldstein-Horioka puzzle, CAD decrease with country size. The net impacts of the financial deepening and monetary credibility on CAD are found to be insignificant.Current Account, Exchange Rate Regimes, Original Sin

Do PPP and UIP Need Each Other in a Financially Open Economy? The Turkish Evidence

This paper investigates the empirical validity of the capital enhanced equilibrium exchange rates (CHEERs) model for the Turkish data. The results of the Johansen cointegration analyses for the variable system containing Turkish and US inflation rates, interest rates, and exchange rate suggest the existence of two stationary relationships explaining the long run evolution of Turkish interest rates and inflation rates, respectively. The results of the structural model obtained by data-acceptable over-identifying restrictions over the cointegration space suggest the non-rejection of the hypothesis that the first vector contains uncovered interest parity (UIP) and the second vector contains purchasing power parity (PPP) with proportionality and symmetry conditions. Consistent with the CHEERs approach, each of the international parity hypotheses is strongly rejected when formulated independently. This is a theory-consistent result for a financially open economy for which equilibrium conditions of asset and commodity markets may not be independent of each other.PPP, UIP, Exchange rates, cointegration, Turkey

Çiftçi Koşulunda Yetiştirilen Elma Ağacının Sulamaya Tepkileri: Düzce Yöresi Örneği

Bu çalışma, Düzce yöresi ikliminde “Granny Smith” elma ağacının (Malus domestica Borkh.) çiftçi koşulları altındaki sulamaya tepkilerinin araştırılmasını amaçlamıştır. Bu çalışmada, sulama sezonu içerisinde elma ağaçlarında yaprak su potansiyeli (LWP), stoma iletkenliği (gs) ve fotosentetik aktif radyasyon (PAR) gibi bazı fizyolojik gözlemler ele alınan dönem içerisinde her sulamadan önce bir hafta aralıklar ile yapılmıştır. Eşzamanlı olarak, tüm sulama sezonu boyunca, elma bahçesinde farklı toprak katmanlarındaki (0-30 cm, 30-60 cm, 60-90 cm, 90-120 cm) toprak su içeriği (SWC) de izlenmiştir. Hasat sonrasında tüm gözlemler kendi arasında değerlendirilmiştir. Araştırma sonuçları, sulama sezonu içerisinde, SWC değerlerinin tarla kapasitesi (FC) ile solma noktası (PWP) arasında değiştiğini ortaya koymuştur. SWC değeri, aşırı yağışlı bazı günler hariç, elma bahçesi toprak profilinde tüketilmesine izin verilebilir %50’lik miktarına ulaşılamamıştır. LWP, gs ve PAR, tüm toprak katmanlarında, SWC’nin artışı ile artmıştır. Ele alınan tüm karşılaştırmalara ait en güçlü ilişki, elma bahçesinde tüm toprak katmanları içerisinde, 30-60 cm toprak katmanından elde edilmiştir. LWP~gs arasındaki ilişkiler (R2=0,53) hafif iken LWP~PAR arasındaki ilişkilerin (R2=0,84) güçlü olduğu saptanmıştır. Sonuçta, ele alınan tüm gözlemler doğrultusunda, yaz döneminde yağışın sık ve düzensiz olmasına rağmen, uygun bir sulama programına ihtiyaç olduğu anlaşılmıştır.This study aimed to investigate response of “Granny Smith” apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) tree to irrigation under farmer condition in Düzce Region. In this study, some physiological measurements, such as leaf water potential (LWP), stomatal conductance (gs) and photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) on the apple trees, were performed weekly before irrigation in the selected period during the irrigation season. Concurrently, in irrigation season, soil water content (SWC) in the different soil layers (0-30 cm, 30-60 cm, 60-90 cm, and 90-120 cm) was also monitored at the apple orchard. Study results showed that SWC was fluctuated between field capacity (FC) and permanent wilting point (PWP) during irrigation season. The value of SWC didn’t reach up to 50%, which is the allowable depletion value at the soil of apple orchard, except some high rainy days. LWP, gs and PAR were increased by increasing of SWC in all soil layers. The strongest relationship for all correlations in all soil layers was obtained in 30- 60 cm soil layers. It was found that LWP had strong relationships with PAR (R2=0.84) while LWP~gs relationships were weak (R2=0.53). Finally, by considering the all results in this study, it may be concluded that a proper irrigation scheduling was needed for such as apple orchards even though precipitation was frequently and unevenly happened in the summer

Determination of science student teachers’ conceptions about ionization energy

AbstractDetermination of preservice science teachers’ conceptions and alternative conceptions about ionization energy were aimed in this study. To achieve this aim, a two-tier multiple-choice test with ten questions was implemented to 300 preservice science teachers in their second and third year in Science Division of Fatih Faculty of Education at Karadeniz Technical University. The test was taken from literature. Researcher redesigned the original form of the test for the sample and the phrase “I do not know the answer” found in the first section of the original questions was extracted from the question for this study. Both first and second parts of the questions were analyzed and the percentages of students’ responses were calculated. Results showed that most of the preservice science teachers did not have an adequate understanding on ionization energy and had different alternative conceptions

A framework for working with digitized cultural heritage artefacts

In this paper, we present our work in designing, implementing, and evaluating a set of 3D interactive spatial measurement tools in the context of Cultural Heritage Toolbox (CH Toolbox), a framework for computer-aided cultural heritage research. Our application utilizes a bi-manual, spaceball and mouse driven user interface to help the user manage visualized 3D models digitized from real artifacts. We have developed a virtual radius estimator, useful for analyzing incomplete pieces of radial artifacts, and a virtual tape measure, useful in measurement of geodesic distances between two points on the surface of an artifact. We tested the tools on the special case of pottery analysis

Conservation and Adaptation for Medieval Castles: The Case of Messner Mountain Museums

In international conservation documents, adaptation is considered an important conservation process for culturally important places. It is especially important when the cultural context changes, as is the case with medieval castles, many of which were altered or built for military and domestic use in the Middle Ages. Medieval castles which are no longer used for their initial functions, are mostly non-functional today, and non-functional buildings often disintegrate into nature and disappear in time. Therefore, maintaining their relevance and cultural significance depends on appropriate adaptation strategies. When adapting a historic building, it is essential to design for the current use and needs, referring to conservation principles. It is also important to blend cultural heritage consciousness with creativity, and this can be achieved by balancing conservation and design practices. Therefore, in addition to design parameters, characteristics of the existing building should be meticulously analysed, and design concepts should be predicated on sustaining the existing values and meanings while adding contemporary ones. It is the purpose of this research to discuss and contribute to the theory of adaptation regarding medieval castle conversions by analysing three related case studies from Northern Italy. The findings lead to the proposal of a diagram, the focus of which is on the conceptual parameters of the multi-dimensional theory of adaptive (re)use, to be used for the design process of historic buildings

A Hermeneutic Analysis of Relational Dynamics in Counseling and Psychotherapy Supervision

Counseling and psychotherapy supervision is a process that includes crucial relational dynamics (Calvert et al., 2016). Power dynamics and multicultural considerations (Green & Dekkers, 2010), as well as parallel processes (Tracey et al., 2012) are among those concepts playing nuanced roles in the relationship and underlining an intersubjective nature of a mutual process. In this study, I explore these relational dynamics in a single individual supervisory relationship. Following a qualitative, interpretive methodology of Gadamer’s (2013) philosophical hermeneutics, I focused on interpreting eight supervision video recordings of a counselor education and supervision doctoral student (supervisor), with a master’s practicum student of mental health counseling (supervisee), in the roles of supervisor and supervisee, respectively. To complement my interpretations, I also used Shedler-Westen Assessment Procedure (SWAP; Shedler & Westen, 2007) to assess the supervisor’s clinical observation of the supervisee’s personality patterns. I used SWAP as supportive data for further discussion of the session recordings and reconstruction of my observations and interpretations. Throughout the interpretation process, I discuss relational dynamics that included power, multicultural considerations, and parallel processes within the observed supervisory relationship. My interpretations revealed that the power dynamics within the observed supervisory relationship had fluctuating features rather than a one-sided, linear hierarchy within and through the sessions. The personal and professional needs of both parties highlighted these characteristics of power in the observed relationship. Similarly, I observed that multicultural considerations within the observed supervisory relationship could be interpreted in conjunction with power dynamics, and that parallel processes could be considered alongside the personal and professional expectations of the supervisee within the supervision relationship and process. My interpretations also indicated that the nuanced aspects of power and multicultural considerations could emerge when they were considered within a relational perspective. Overall, I addressed how the process concepts focused on within the observed supervision relationship could vary with the nuances of the supervision relationship. With a combination of critical and descriptive perspectives, I discuss the interpretations in the context of existing supervision literature. I also discuss implications for research and practice of counseling and psychotherapy supervision

Reconciling Architectural Design with Seismic Codes; A Comparative Architectural Analysis for Mid-Rise Reinforced Concrete Residential Buildings in Turkey

Seismic codes include strict requirements for the design and construction of mid-rise reinforced concrete residential buildings. These requirements call for the symmetric and regular arrangement of the structural system, increased cross-sections for columns, and the introduction of shear walls to counteract the effects of lateral seismic loads. It is challenging for architects to reconcile the demands of these codes with the spatial arrangement and commercial appeal of their designs. This study argues that such reconciliation is possible through an architectural analysis. First, the effectiveness of applying the seismic design principles required by the codes is demonstrated with the comparative analysis of two finite element models. Then three pairs of architectural models, representing the most common floor plan arrangements for such buildings in Turkey, are architecturally analyzed before and after the application of seismic design principles in terms of floor area and access to view. The results demonstrate that within the context defined by the methodology of this study, considerable seismic achievement can be achieved in mid-rise reinforced concrete residential buildings by the application of relatively few, basic design features by the architects