ANNOTATED CHECKLIST OF THE SEED BEETLES (COLEOPTERA: CHRYSOMELIDAE: BRUCHINAE) OF TURKEY

The Bruchinae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) fauna of Turkey is reviewed and an annotated checklist is presented, along with the taxa distribution by the country's provinces. In total, 122 species arranged in 14 genera are listed as the seed beetle fauna of Turkey, which constitutes approximately 25% of the Palaearctic Bruchinae fauna. Additionally, the questionable or problematic records of 11 species are evaluated separately

RENTQUAL: a new measurement scale for car rental services

Service quality perception is one of the key determinants of customer satisfaction and repeat purchase. As such, it has received considerable attention in the marketing literature. Quality issues in the car rental industry, however, have received less attention. Furthermore, there is lack of a scale developed to measure service quality in car rental services. This paper aims to develop a measurement scale in accordance with the procedure recommended by Churchill (1979) and Parasuraman, Zeithaml, and Berry (1988). Empirical studies were conducted in two waves. First, qualitative research was undertaken in the form of 23 in-depth interviews that produced 61 items describing tourists’ perceptions. Then, a quantitative study was used to purify the scale items and to examine dimensionality, reliability, factor structure and validity. Finally, an 18-item RENTQUAL scale with the following six factors emerged: comfort, delivery, safety, handing over, ergonomics and accessibility. Results show that safety is the most important factor in car rental services. Paper also presents scale development procedure, discussion, implications and limitations

Preterm birth and periodontitis: a dilemma of current obstetrics

Objective In current obstetric literature, the influence of periodontal disease on adverse perinatal outcome is a matter of debate. In this prospective cohort study, we aimed to investigate whether there is an association between periodontal status and preterm birth (PTB) via previously unused methodology. Methods In this prospective cohort study, we examined the periodontal status of mothers within 24 hours following birth. In total, 226 puerperal women were examined and placed in two groups; a PTB group consisting of 71 patients, and a term birth (TB) group consisting of 155 patients. All risk factors known to be etiologic factors for PTB were excluded. The patients were classified into three main groups in both groups based on oral examination findings: gingivitis (G), periodontitis (P), and healthy (H). Results Both groups were identical in terms of demographic factors. Regarding possibly influencing factors including smoking, passive smoking and tooth brushing habits, both groups were also identical. The distribution of G, P and H among the groups were similar and the difference was not significant (p=1). p-values among the PTB and TB groups were 40.8% and 40.6%, respectively, and the difference was not significant. When collected data were reanalyzed by splitting the PTB group into early and late PTB, the results were similar and the difference was not significant. Conclusion The confusion over this conflicting association likely results from confounding factors, other factors that can cause PTB and lack of consensus over the diagnostic criteria for periodontal disease. Finally, our prospective cohort study, which strictly excluded possible confounding variables, has not confirmed any association between periodontitis and preterm birth

Notes on the host plant, habitat and distribution in Turkey of Cryptocephalus (Burlinius) pusillus Fabricius, 1777 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Abstract. Cryptocephalus (Burlinius) pusillus Fabricius, 1777 is a very poorly known species in Turkey, and up to now there is no data about the distributional pattern of this species in the country. Recently five specimens (four males, one female) of C. pusillus were collected from Ulmus glabra Huds. in the south-western parts of Turkey. Redescription of male and female is presented, and the genital structures are illustrated. Data about habitat, host plant and distribution of the species in Turkey is provided for the fist time

Comparison of active vs. expectant management of the third stage of labor in women with low risk of postpartum hemorrhage: a randomized controlled trial

Objectives: To compare the ‘strictly’ active management protocol in women with low risk of postpartum hemorrhage using the expectant management protocol with respect to changes in hematologic parameters, uterotonics, blood transfusions, or additional interventions. Material and methods: A randomized controlled prospective trial in which 934 singleton parturients enrolled; 654 were randomly assigned to the active and mixed management groups. The primary outcome parameter was the reduction in hemoglobin concentrations due to delivery, and the secondary outcome parameters were changes in hemoglobin of more than 3 g/dL (ΔHb ≥ 3 g/dL), durations of the third stage of labor, need for additional uterotonic agents, blood transfusions, manual removal of the placenta, and surgical evacuation of retained products of conception. Results: The mean postpartum hemoglobin concentration was significantly higher (P = 0.04) in the active management group with a significantly lower reduction (P = 0.03). Falls of hemoglobin levels of more than 3 g/dL (ΔHb ≥ 3g/dL) were less common in the active management group though not significantly (P = 0.32). The mean duration of the third stage of labor was significantly (P < 0.001) shorter in the active management group. There was no significant difference between the two groups with regard to the need for additional uterotonic agents, uterine atony, blood transfusion, manual removal of the placenta, surgical evacuation of retained products of conception, and prolonged third stage of labor. Conclusions: Although active management of the third stage of labor was associated with higher postpartum hemoglobin levels, it did not influence the risk of ‘severe postpartum hemorrhage’ in women with low risk of postpartum hemorrhage

Graphene and Related Materials for Resistive Random Access Memories

Graphene and related materials (GRMs) are promising candidates for the fabrication of resistive random access memories (RRAM). Here, we analyze, classify and evaluate this emerging field, and summarize the performance of the RRAM prototypes using GRMs. Graphene oxide, amorphous carbon films, transition metal dichalcogenides, hexagonal boron nitride and black phosphorous can be used as resistive switching media, in which the switching can be governed either by the migration of intrinsic species or penetration of metallic ions from adjacent layers. Graphene can be used as electrode to provide flexibility and transparency, as well as an interface layer between the electrode and dielectric to block atomic diffusion, reduce power consumption, suppress surface effects, limit the number of conductive filaments in the dielectric, and improve device integration. GRMs-based RRAMs fit some non-volatile memory technological requirements like low operating voltages 10 years, endurance >109 cycles and power consumption ~10 pJ/transition still remain a challenge. More technology-oriented studies including reliability and variability analyses may lead to the development of GRMs-based RRAMs with realistic possibilities of commercialization.We acknowledge support from the Young 1000 Global Talent Recruitment Program of the Ministry of Education of China, the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grants no. 61502326, 41550110223), the Jiangsu Government (grant no. BK20150343), the Ministry of Finance of China (grant no. SX21400213), the Young 973 National Program of the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology (grant no. 2015CB932700), the Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science & Technology, the Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant Nos. 61521064, 61322408, 61422407, the Beijing Training Project for the Leading Talents in S&T under Grant No. ljrc201508, the Opening Project of Key Laboratory of Microelectronic Devices & Integrated Technology, Institute of Microelectronics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, the EU Graphene Flagship, FP7 Grant CARERAMM, ERC Grants Hetero2D and Highgraink, EPSRC Grants EP/K01711X/1, EP/K017144/1, EP/N010345/1, EP/M507799/1, EP/L016087/1, EP/M013243/1

Comparison Of Leaf Beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) Diversity Of Turkey And Neighboring Countries With Respect To Species Numbers And Endemicity

According to number of leaf beetle species and subspecies, Turkey is the most diverse country by far amongits neighbors with 916 reported taxa. The species numbers of neighboring countries are as follows: Bulgaria603, Ukraine 582, Greece 507, Romania 495, Iran 479, Russia (only the southern European part included)441, Azerbaijan 373, Armenia 294, Georgia 273, Syria 254, Cyprus (whole island) 136, Iraq 120 andMoldova 103. As to number of endemic taxa, Iran and Turkey keep ahead with 103 and 88 endemicsrespectively. The closest country is Greece with 32 endemics and Moldova contains no endemic taxa.However, when we calculate the rate of endemism, Iran is unmatched with an endemism ratio of 21.50%,followed by Iraq and Turkey having 10.00% and 9.61% endemism ratios respectively

Böcek Sistematiği: Filogeni ve Sınıflandırma

Dünyamızda yaşayan tüm organizmaların bilindiğini düşünmek cazip gelebilir, çünkü kuşlar, memeliler ve çiçekli bitkiler gibi büyük organizmaların sınıfl andırılması ve tanımlanmasına dair çok sayıda kaynak vardır. Ancak çeşitli kitaplar incelendiğinde, bir kuşun coğrafik ırkının taksonomik durumu veya bir çiçekli bitkinin hangi familyaya ait olduğu gibi uygulamaların farklı olduğu görülür. Bilim insanları bu tür meseleleri pervasızca değiştirmez ve karıştırmazlar. Uygulamalardaki farklılıklar, akrabalık ilişkilerdeki belirsizlikleri yansıtabilir ve en uygun sınıfl andırmayı belirlemek kolay olmayabilir. Önceden yapılmış anatomik çalışmalara moleküler bilgilerin eklenmesiyle, akrabalık ilişkilerine dair giderek artan yeni bilgiler değişikliklere yol açar. Bu durum özellikle böcekler için geçerlidir. Yeni bilgiler ve evrimle ilgili değişen yaklaşımlar, böceklerde takım düzeyinde değişikliklere varan dinamik bir sınıflandırmaya öncülük eder. Böceklere dair bilgilerimiz özellikle tropiklerde devamlı olarak bulunan yeni türlerle de değişmektedir ve dünyamızın biyoçeşitliliğine dair tahminler yenilenmektedir

Investigation of the acute effect of myofascial release techniques and dynamic stretch on vertical jump performance in recreationally active individuals

This study aimed to investigate and compare the acute effect of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization, foam roller, and dynamic stretchinterventions on vertical jump performancein recreationally active individuals.The study included 42 individuals between18 and 35 years of age. All participants were randomized into groups of 14, and they warmed up by5-minjogging. Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization was applied with Graston Technique®,and foam roller was applied with a Trigger Point Deep Tissue foam roller. On both legs, the hamstring, and gastrocnemius muscles, and plantar fascia were treated with instruments in the Graston Technique® group and with myofascial release using the participant’s own body weight in the foam roller group for a total of 16 min. The dynamic stretch protocol consisted of 10 dynamic exercises with 10 min of medium and high intensity exercising. Vertical jump performance was evaluated before and immediately after the application using the“Optojump Next” system with the“Countermovement Jump without Arm Swing” test. IBM SPSS (version 22) was used for statistical analysis. The p<0.05 value was considered statistically significant.The mean age of the participants was 23.0±1.6, 22.7±3.8, and 21.5±1.6 years in the Graston Technique®, foam roller, and dynamic stretch groups, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference in the pre-and post-jump performance values of all 3 groups (p = 0.000). In the evaluation between the groups, there was no statistically significant difference in the jump performance ofGraston Technique® and dynamic stretch (p = 0.840), dynamic stretch and foam roller (p = 0.778), and Graston Technique® and foam roller (p = 0.436) groups.There was a statistically significant increase in the jump performance of all 3 groups, with the biggest change being in the Graston Technique® group. Considering the inter-group comparisons, no statistically significant change was observed between the groups

Variation In Cryptocephalus (Protophysus) Wehnckei Weise, 1882 With A Redescription Of The Poorly Known Female

WOS: 000285526100011A detailed redescription is given of the poorly known female of the chrysomelid beetle Cryptocephalus (Protophysus) wehnckei Weise, 1882, which is endemic to Turkey. Based on a large number of samples collected from Isparta province, we noticed some conspicuous colour variation between and within the males and females of this species, and we illustrate this colour variation. Photographs of the habitus and genital structures are also presented. Some biological features of the species (e.g. mating behaviours, phenology, habitat and host plant information) are described here for the first time